Ruling on records access to election materials upheld [Video]

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling stating that certain election materials can not be obtained via government records requests.

In an opinion published Thursday, the court sided with a district court ruling that dismissed a lawsuit filed against Utah, Juab, and Millard Counties, as well as figures such as Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson.

The case began in December 2021 when two Utahns submitted Government Records Access and Management Act requests to the three counties asking for “Cast Vote Records,” “Project Backup Databases,” “Ballot Images,” and “Tabulator Tapes.” In their GRAMA requests, they stated their intentions to share the documents publicly to the media, local officials and “several advocacy organizations.”

The counties denied the requests, either directly, or by simply not responding, which is considered a denial under GRAMA. The ones that issued a denial stated the requested records were either sealed or not …