Is open government advanced in states served by nonprofit advocacy groups like the Kentucky Open Government Coalition? We're trying.
The Journal of Civic Information
Volume 3 | Number 2 August 2021
Editor's Note
Advocacy Groups Make a Difference
David Cuillier, Ph.D., Editor, University of Arizona
"At last, we have empirical evidence that public records acquisition works better in states served by nonprofit independent advocacy organizations.
"In this issue of the Journal of Civic Information, A.Jay Wagner of Marquette University presents his findings from a field survey employing 1,002 public records requests across nine states.
https://journals.flvc.org/civic/article/view/127815/131301
The key takeaway:
"States with active freedom of information coalitions have better compliance with public record laws, meaning faster response, more communication from the agency, and more likelihood to receive records requested.
"Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maine, Oklahoma, New Jersey, and Washington state all have active coalitions for open government, and requests submitted to their county governments came out much better than counties in states without coalitions, Wyoming and Mississippi. His study identified other interesting findings, as well.
"Granted, it's a little too early to pop the research champagne cork. This is just one study with just nine states, and correlation doesn't equal causation. But every piece of data helps us learn a little more about what matters in making civic information flow more freely, creating a more informed electorate, and ultimately a better society.
"In all transparency, I am biased on this topic, as board president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, which promotes and supports the more than 40 state freedom of information coalitions nationwide, including Guam and Puerto Rico.
"Wagner's findings back up what we've seen anecdotally for decades: States with strong, diverse nonprofit coalitions promoting government transparency tend to enact stronger laws and build a culture of openness.
"A survey of the coalitions earlier this year by NFOIC found that 80% offer hotlines for the public, about three-quarters help draft legislation, and many have aided dozens of lawsuits to improve transparency. Some coalitions have led effective FOI audits, leading to change.
"The question is, do strong broad-based coalitions cause more transparency in a state, or is there something about the states that lead to stronger laws and creation of coalitions? That's the million dollar question, and one we will need more studies to get at. I suspect, like a lot of research, that it will be complicated, and that perhaps a little of both is going on.
"Ultimately, though, the growing body of research indicates that nonprofit coalitions for open government make a difference, and they should be supported generously if we want to maintain this experiment we call democracy."
