Federal FOIA
File at foia.gov. Specify the agency. Be specific: time window, document types, names if known. Federal agencies have 20 business days to respond (often longer in practice).
State open records
Each Southern state has its own law. Georgia Open Records Act (3 business days), Alabama Open Records Law (no statutory deadline), Florida Sunshine Law (immediate access for most).
Fees
Most agencies charge for staff time and copying. You can request a fee waiver if the records serve the public interest.
Appeal
If denied, you can appeal internally and then file in court. Many advocacy groups will help — Black Voters Matter, Project on Government Oversight, and the ACLU.