Election boards are being overwhelmed by requests for data.

The intent: to hamper preparations for the November election.

I first heard about this on MSNBC.

I read the Washington Post article that prompted the tv coverage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/09/11/trump-election-deniers-voting/

Then I asked that legislation be drafted.

My bill would provide that if a local election board concludes that Public Information Act requests are impairing preparation for an upcoming election, the board may seek a court order to stay its obligation to comply with any such PIA requests.

A judge would decide if the need to prepare for an election outweighs the public’s “broad right of access to public records while protecting legitimate governmental interests and the privacy rights of individual citizens.”

https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/OpenGov/pia.aspx

Before introducing this bill next January, I will seek input from the affected parties.