Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Bob Melton
Department: County Auditor
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND FILE Office of the County Auditor's Audit of Supervisor of Elections - Report No. 20-12.
body
Why Action is Necessary
What Action Accomplishes
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
The Office of the County Auditor conducted an audit of the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office. The objectives of our audit were to determine whether the November 2018 election was efficiently and effectively conducted; voter registration processes include adequate internal controls and voter rolls are adequately maintained; the SOE is adequately funded, equipment resources are adequate, and monies are expended appropriately, and voter outreach and education activities meet best practices.
We conclude that the November 2018 election was not efficiently and effectively conducted. Backlogs in processing and tabulating Vote-By-Mail ballots delayed election results. Half of the precincts reported more votes (cast ballots) than voters on election day. Electronic transmission of precinct results on election night were delayed, and election day votes continued to be transmitted and tabulated after all precincts were announced as having been reported. Vote-By-Mail and unused ballots were not adequately tracked. Recount results were submitted late and rejected by the State. Had the recount results been accepted, they would have reflected an underreporting of 2,335 ballots which were misplaced and not included in the recount. Faulty ballot design likely resulted in undervotes. Election day staff performance is not adequately tracked and monitored to help improve future elections. There is an overall lack of Standard Operating Procedures. Based on the totality of these issues, we are unable to provide assurance over the accuracy of the November 2018 ele...
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