Ohio Secretary of State LaRose discovers non-citizens on voter rolls

Ohio's Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, has taken significant measures to uphold the integrity of the state's electoral process. A recent audit of the state's voter rolls revealed a concerning number of non-U.S. citizen individuals registered to vote. As a result, the office has referred 138 non-U.S. citizens found on registered voter rolls to the state's attorney general. This move follows a months-long audit of the state's voter rolls, which uncovered a total of 597 individuals who had registered to vote in Ohio despite not being citizens of the United States, as mandated by the state constitution.

Pushing for Accountability

LaRose's determination to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in Ohio elections has led to the identification of these individuals. The evidence gathered even suggests that some of them may have cast ballots in Ohio elections during the time when state and federal records indicated they lacked citizenship status. The law requires the referral of these cases to the attorney general, and LaRose has fulfilled that obligation, seeking to address any potential violations of electoral regulations.

The audit conducted by LaRose's office has not only identified non-citizen registrations but has also resulted in the purging of approximately 155,000 voter registrations confirmed to be abandoned and inactive for at least four consecutive years. This extensive cleaning of the voter rolls is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that the voter database accurately reflects eligible participants.

Cross-Checking Against Databases

To carry out this comprehensive audit, the Ohio Secretary of State's office relied on various resources and databases. This included cross-checking records provided by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, the Social Security Administration, federal jury pool data, and other relevant resources. By utilizing this extensive range of information, LaRose's office has made significant strides in ensuring the accuracy and legitimacy of the state's voter rolls.

Ohio's Critical Role in 2024 Elections

The actions taken by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose come in the midst of the state being a crucial swing state likely to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. With former President Trump expressing concerns about potential voter fraud, Ohio's proactive measures to address eligibility and maintain the integrity of the electoral process could play a pivotal role in shaping the electoral landscape.