Concerns over election transparency took center stage during the Utah County Commission meeting on July 26, 2023, as discussions revealed tensions between the election director and professional staff regarding access to critical election data. The election director expressed frustration over being denied access to certain information, emphasizing the need for transparency to ensure election integrity.

"I want to know what's happening in my office," the director stated, highlighting a recurring theme of feeling sidelined by staff who insisted they were "trying to protect" him. This phrase raised alarms for the director, who questioned what exactly he was being shielded from. He argued that without full access to data flows and processes, he could not guarantee the integrity of elections.

The director challenged staff to provide a list of specific requests for information that had been denied, underscoring the importance of accountability in the election process. He recounted instances where he sought access to the voter roll and other data, only to be met with resistance. "I can't attest to election integrity if I don't know every step of the process," he asserted.

In a notable example, the director shared how he independently developed methods to clean up the voter roll, reducing the number of unverified registrants from 1,300 to just 14. This achievement, he noted, was made possible only after he gained access to data that staff initially withheld.

The meeting also touched on security protocols at the ballot processing center, where the director was initially denied a key. While staff cited best practices requiring two-person access, the director argued that as the election director, he should have the necessary access to perform his duties effectively.

The discussions raised significant questions about the balance between security and transparency in the electoral process. As the meeting concluded, the director's call for greater access to information echoed a broader demand for accountability and openness in Utah County's election operations. The implications of these discussions could lead to changes in how election data is managed and accessed moving forward.