Internal auditor proposes concise Elections Department audit during active election

Internal Auditor Hassemer told the Audit Committee the Office of Auditor (OA) planned a concise audit of the Elections Department to observe election-related operations without interfering in the ongoing election. The audit would examine internal processes, logistics, interdepartmental coordination and how the department adapts to frequent changes in state election laws; an entrance conference with the Elections Director was scheduled for the following week and staff targeted completion by early July.

Manager Cowell welcomed the review as a way to help the new Elections Director and to inform formation of a soon-to-be-filled Deputy Director position. Mr. Blount flagged the state’s implementation of a new system as a potential source of operational risk. The Internal Auditor said the product would be concise—similar in scope to a prior cybersecurity audit—and intended to identify points of risk rather than produce traditional, lengthy findings.