Report 2012-112 Recommendations
When an audit is completed and a report is issued, auditees must provide the State Auditor with information regarding their progress in implementing recommendations from our reports at three intervals from the release of the report: 60 days, six months, and one year. Additionally, Senate Bill 1452 (Chapter 452, Statutes of 2006), requires auditees who have not implemented recommendations after one year, to report to us and to the Legislature why they have not implemented them or to state when they intend to implement them. Below, is a listing of each recommendation the State Auditor made in the report referenced and a link to the most recent response from the auditee addressing their progress in implementing the recommendation and the State Auditor's assessment of auditee's response based on our review of the supporting documentation.
Recommendations in Report 2012-112: Office of the Secretary of State: It Must Do More to Ensure Funds Provided Under the Federal Help America Vote Act Are Spent Effectively (Release Date: August 2013)
| Recommendations to Legislature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number | Recommendation | Status |
| 6 | To ensure that the secretary of state has the authority to designate voter registration agencies under the NVRA, the Legislature should expressly define who may make such designations. |
Legislation Introduced |
| Recommendations to Secretary of State, Office of the | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number | Recommendation | Status |
| 1 | To ensure that the public, county registrars, and potential voting system developers understand how the secretary of state will make voting system approval decisions, the Office should make it a priority to develop regulations describing voting system standards in accordance with state law. It should begin the formal rule-making process by January 2014. |
Fully Implemented |
| 2 | To comply with federal requirements for record retention, the Office should revise its record retention policy for long-term federal awards such as HAVA. |
Fully Implemented |
| 3 | To ensure that the State has maximum flexibility in how it spends the remaining HAVA funds, the Office should do the following: Formally renegotiate its agreement with Justice by discussing the need to pursue VoteCal and obtaining clarity as to what aspect of the current CalVoter system, if any, does not meet HAVA's requirements. Report, by December 2013, the results of these discussions with Justice to the Legislature. If the Office continues to believe it is compliant with Title III requirements, it should take the necessary steps to maximize the Legislature's flexibility to decide how best to appropriate remaining HAVA funds. |
Fully Implemented |
| 4 | To enhance the value of the HAVA spending plan as a transparency and accountability tool for the Legislature, the Office should make the following modifications to its annual HAVA spending plan: Clearly state the methodology used to report prior HAVA expenditures in the HAVA spending plan. Such a methodology should use the financial information contained in its accounting system. Reconcile the prior HAVA expenditures with the year-end financial reports the Office provides to the California State Controller's Office. Present prior HAVA expenditures by activity and by specific appropriation. |
Will Not Implement |
| 5 | To ensure the State complies with the NVRA, the Office should take all necessary steps, including seeking any necessary legislative changes, and work with the DMV to modify the driver's license application so that it may simultaneously serve as a form for voter registration. |
Will Not Implement |