Report 2017-107 Recommendation 12 Responses

Report 2017-107: Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters: Insufficient Policies and Procedures Have Led to Errors That May Have Reduced Voters' Confidence in the Registrar's Office (Release Date: October 2017)

Recommendation #12 To: Secretary of State, Office of the

Beginning in December 2018, the Secretary of State should implement annual risk-based reviews of a selection of county election officials' offices to ensure their compliance with state election laws and regulations.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2023

The Secretary of State provides ongoing guidance to county elections officials through weekly meetings, guidance documents, and memorandums and works in partnership with county elections officials to ensure compliance with state and federal election laws and regulations. The Secretary of State performs election observation in every state election in a selection of counties to observe and document compliance with election laws and rules. In addition, the Secretary of State will work with a selection of county elections officials to form a working group on developing best practices for reducing errors in the preparation of election materials. The topics of these best practices will be based on the reports of errors received from counties. The best practices will then be shared with all counties in order to help reduce errors. In addition, they will be used to develop potential trainings for counties.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

The Secretary of State continues to explore the appropriate framework and potential resources and funding options to conduct annual risk-based reviews of a selection of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules. The reports of errors we received from counties during the 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 election cycles will help inform the development of any proposals for conducting these risk-based reviews.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

The Secretary of State will continue to explore potential resources and funding options to conduct annual risk-based reviews of a selection of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules based on the reports of errors we received from counties during the 2018, 2020, and 2021 election cycles.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

The Secretary of State will continue to explore potential resources and funding options to conduct annual risk-based reviews of a selection of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules beginning in December 2020 based on the reports of errors we receive from counties during the 2020 election cycle.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019

The Secretary of State is currently identifying potential resources and funding options to conduct annual risk-based reviews of a selection of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules beginning in December 2020 based on the reports of errors we receive from counties during the 2020 election cycle.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

The Secretary of State will begin conducting annual reviews of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules in December 2018 as resources allow.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

The Secretary of State will begin conducting annual reviews of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules in December 2018 as resources allow.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The Secretary of State will begin conducting annual reviews of county elections officials' offices to ensure compliance with election laws and rules in December 2018 as resources allow.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2017-107

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.