JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A recent audit of the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office gave it a “fair” rating. The Missouri State Auditor’s Office says it’s a downgrade from a “good” rating the last time it completed an audit of the state’s secretary of state’s office.
The audit cited several concerns within the office, such as control and reporting procedures. It claimed that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft refused to hand over some information that state law requires.
Ashcroft is serving his eighth year in office, and he’s currently campaigning for the Missouri Governor’s Office this November.
The audit finds that Ashcroft did not turn over records over cyber security reviews of Missouri’s local election authorities, dropped out of an election registration program without following proper protocols, and did not have adequate controls and procedures in a comprehensive state financial report.
Ashcroft, speaking Wednesday to a group of reporters at the Missouri Capitol, denied any wrongdoing alleged in the audit.