Clash Between Missouri State Auditor and Secretary of State Over Audit Findings
A Tale of Political Wrangling and Election Integrity
In the heart of the Show-Me State, a political storm erupted in 2024 when Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released an audit report of the state’s Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft’s office. The audit’s findings ignited a clash between the two Republican leaders, pitting accusations of political motivations against concerns over election integrity.
Audit Findings: A Saga of Voter Records and Cybersecurity
The audit, conducted by Fitzpatrick’s office, delved into the Secretary of State’s decision to withdraw Missouri from the national Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). This move raised eyebrows among election officials and voters alike, sparking concerns about the accuracy and integrity of voter records.
The audit report revealed that Ashcroft’s office had terminated Missouri’s participation in ERIC without consulting local election authorities, who had unanimously approved joining the system. This unilateral action, according to Fitzpatrick, would leave local officials with fewer resources to rectify inaccurate voter records.
Furthermore, the audit raised questions about the Secretary of State’s Office’s compliance with cybersecurity requirements. It noted that the office had refused to provide information regarding the implementation of newly mandated cybersecurity reviews for Missouri’s 116 local election authorities. Ashcroft defended this decision, citing legal prohibitions against releasing confidential information.
Ashcroft’s Riposte: Accusations of Political Motivation and “Deep State” Conspiracy
Secretary of State Ashcroft, a Republican running for governor, responded to the audit with a fiery rebuttal, dismissing it as a “political opinion in the guise of an audit report.” He vehemently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that his office was actively performing voter list maintenance and obtaining changes of address and death records.
Ashcroft took the opportunity to invoke the oft-cited conspiracy theory of a “deep state” to insinuate that the audit was a politically motivated attack. This unsubstantiated claim further fueled the political tensions surrounding the audit.
Fitzpatrick’s Defense: Non-Partisanship and Standard Procedure
State Auditor Fitzpatrick countered Ashcroft’s accusations, emphasizing that the audit findings were non-partisan and not politically driven. He highlighted the relatively small size of his office, dispelling the notion of a vast bureaucracy engaged in political maneuvering. Fitzpatrick maintained that the audit report underwent the standard process and was not intended to create conflict with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Cybersecurity Concerns: A Looming Threat to Election Integrity
The audit’s findings regarding cybersecurity compliance added another layer of concern to the already tense situation. The Secretary of State’s Office’s refusal to provide information on cybersecurity reviews raised questions about the office’s commitment to protecting sensitive election data from potential cyber threats.
Conclusion: A Tangled Web of Politics and Election Administration
The audit of the Secretary of State’s Office in Missouri exposed discrepancies in the handling of voter records and raised questions about cybersecurity compliance. The ensuing clash between State Auditor Fitzpatrick and Secretary of State Ashcroft, both Republicans, further escalated the situation, with accusations of political motivations and conspiracy theories. The audit’s findings and the political fallout highlighted the ongoing challenges in ensuring accurate voter records and maintaining public trust in election administration. As the 2024 election draws near, the citizens of Missouri are left to grapple with the ramifications of this political storm, wondering how it will impact the integrity of their upcoming elections.