Audit of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (November 10, 2025)

This is a state performance audit of selected work by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024.

“In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of certain activities of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (SOC) for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024.”

Auditors checked whether the office properly ran the Address Confidentiality Program and handled requests from government entities for participants’ real addresses.

“The purpose of our audit was to determine the following:”

The program protects people who may be at risk by helping keep their real home addresses private.

“The ACP helps participants keep their actual physical address confidential, thereby supporting efforts to avoid actual or potential threats.”

If you are a survivor or an eligible healthcare provider, this program can give you a substitute address and forward your mail so your real address is not easily exposed through government records.

“The ACP provides a substitute address and confidential mail-forwarding service to (1) individuals who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, and/or stalking and (2) healthcare providers who have a connection to a legally protected healthcare service.”

The main audit areas passed, but auditors flagged that the domestic violence grant program needs stronger written policies for fairness, transparency, and accountability.

“During our audit, we identified areas for improvement regarding the administration and oversight of the DVSP Grant evaluation process.”

The auditor’s office plans to check back in about six months to see whether the Secretary’s office has made progress on the recommendation.

“We will be following up in approximately six months to determine the progress made regarding the implementation of our recommendations.”

The grant-program issue matters because written procedures help show that public money is awarded consistently and for the reasons lawmakers intended.

“Documented procedures are essential to ensure proper internal controls, transparency in decision-making, and effective management of public funds.”

A “substitute address” means government agencies generally use the program address instead of a participant’s real home address; an “exemption request” is when a state or local entity says it needs the real address anyway.

“According to 950 CMR 130.08, all state and local entities are required to accept an ACP participant’s substitute address as their residential and/or mailing address.”