Statement on EAC Final Management Decision
State of Iowa Seal
DES MOINES – Below is a statement by Jim Larew, Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Governor Culver, on the final management decision of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission:
It is important to reiterate no federal rules were broken. The contracts at issue, with SPPG and others, were not required to be subject to competitive bidding. The Iowa Attorney General’s office addressed the matter and advised the Election Assistance Commission that competitive bidding was not required. The report also does not include a finding that $2.5 million in voting funds were misspent. When documentation was provided to the EAC, most of the initial challenges were withdrawn—leaving only $220,995 (about 7/10th of 1 percent of the program budget) in dispute.
Most of the federal rules that were interpreted to evaluate the Iowa HAVA program had not even been published by the time Iowa HAVA was completed. It is challenging to follow a rule no one has ever seen. The best judgment of the Secretary of State’s office was the guide used to operate the program. After the fact, there were a number of good-faith disagreements between the Secretary of State’s office and auditors about how implementation funds were to be spent pursuant to the rules.
The remaining disputed amounts were made subject to a resolution under which terms:
a. No admission of wrongdoing or illegality or failure to follow rules was required nor offered.
b. No expenditure of state or federal taxpayer funds will be required;
c. There will be no loss or diminishment of HAVA funds at the Secretary of State’s office, by even one cent; and
d. The Election Assistance Commission has acknowledged the fact that SPPG provided “extensive effort and support” in implementing HAVA in Iowa and that quality work was produced in the course of implementing the HAVA program. We appreciate their role in implementing HAVA in Iowa.
The Iowa HAVA program has been acknowledged as one of the nation’s best programs. As a result of the program, Iowa’s voters are assured of voting on machines that function properly and in accordance with best practices. Iowa’s voting places are accessible to all citizens, including those with disabilities. Iowans have confidence in their voting system and vote in record numbers.
Source: Iowa Governors Office
