Free Republic

More than 25 percent of the new registration forms sent to the state since Jan. 1 have been returned to the counties, most because they lack the driver's license, state identification or Social Security numbers now required by federal law. ---snip--- Problems with a new statewide voter registration system could keep tens of thousands of Californians from showing up on election rolls this June. More than 25 percent of the new registration forms sent to the state since Jan. 1 have been returned to the counties, most because they lack the driver's license, state identification or Social Security numbers now...

Sacramento -- More than $3.8 million in federal election money sent to California was either misspent by former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley or lacked proper documentation, according to a federal audit released Wednesday. Shelley, who resigned in February after a series of scandals buffeted his administration, was criticized last December in a state audit for slipshod management -- a finding echoed by federal officials who questioned nearly half of the spending they reviewed. The auditors said they found instances of legal costs that exceeded contracted amounts, employee salaries improperly paid with federal dollars, and the purchase of promotional items...

Washington -- The chief author of the law that sent nearly $4 billion to states for nonpartisan voter education funds called Monday for a federal inquiry into how Secretary of State Kevin Shelley spent California's share of the money. Rep. Bob Ney, chairman of the House Administration Committee, urged the Election Assistance Commission to conduct a special audit to determine whether Shelley violated federal rules by spending some of the state's voting funds on contracts with Democratic operatives who attended fund-raisers and other partisan events. The federal funds were meant to be used to replace outdated voting machines and for...