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Administration of Payments Received Under the Help America Vote Act by the Alabama Secretary of State: April 30, 2003, through January 31, 2010

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number
E-HP-AL-06-10
Report Type
Audit
Subject
Grant
Description

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, audited $40.9 million in funds received by the Alabama Secretary of State under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Secretary of State (1) used payments authorized by Sections 101, 102, and 251 of HAVA in accordance with HAVA and applicable requirements; (2) accurately and properly accounted for property purchased with HAVA payments and for program income; and (3) met HAVA requirements for Section 251 funds for an election fund and for a matching contribution.

Participating OIG
Election Assistance Commission OIG
Location(s)
AL, United States
Questioned Costs
$89,155
Funds for Better Use
$0
View report on Oversight.gov

Status of Recommendations

Closed

We recommend that the EAC resolve with the SOS the appropriate corrective action regarding the lack of periodic certifications for the questioned period that personnel costs were paid from HAVA program funds.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS determine whether the sub-awards in question are allowable HAVA expenditures, and secure appropriate approvals.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS review all sub-awards to counties to ensure that amounts paid were adequately supported by documentation and all payments were for qualified HAVA purposes.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS request reimbursements from counties for all unauthorized payments.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS require staff of the counties to conduct a physical inventory of all HAVA-funded equipment in their possession and use the results to correct its property records.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS ensure that the property management records of the counties have at least the minimum information required in the federal requirements of 41 CFR § 105-71.132 and the Alabama State Code Section 36-16-8.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS ensure that the property records are updated to reflect the correct acquisition cost for the ten printers.

Closed

We recommend that the SOS ensure that the property is secured in a manner consistent with the federal requirements of 41 CFR § 105-71.132.

Closed

We recommend that the EAC work with the SOS to resolve the issue of whether the costs associated with the “Take a Kid to Vote” project of approximately $26,459 are allowable uses of HAVA funds. If it is determined that the project is not an allowable use…

Closed

The EAC work with the SOS to resolve the conflict between federal, state and county law which requires that program income be deposited in non-HAVA funds at the state and county levels.

Closed

The SOS provide guidance to the counties on how to properly record and report program income received from the sale of voter registration lists generated from the state’s voter registration database. The SOS should also report such income to the EAC.