Ohio Identifies 597 Noncitizens Who Voted or Registered Recently

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Secretary of State has referred nearly 600 individuals to the state Attorney General’s office for potential prosecution related to voting registration and participation. This move highlights ongoing efforts to ensure only eligible voters participate in the electoral process.

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose reported that 597 individuals identified as noncitizens have either registered to vote or cast ballots in the recent elections. This figure, while higher than previous years, represents a small fraction of Ohio’s vast electorate of over 8 million registered voters.

Among those referred, 138 individuals allegedly cast ballots, while 459 registered but did not vote. This referral follows a routine review process intended to maintain the integrity of the state’s voting records.

The number of noncitizen-related referrals varies from year to year. For context, in 2022, there were 148 cases referred, in 2021 there were 117, and in 2019, the figure was 354. These figures suggest that while the number of referrals this year is notable, it is part of a continuing trend rather than an extraordinary spike.

Despite these referrals, prosecutions related to noncitizen voting are relatively rare. This year’s emphasis on noncitizen voting aligns with the broader campaign messaging from Republican candidates leading into the 2024 elections, suggesting a heightened focus on voting integrity.

LaRose initiated an audit of Ohio’s voter registration database earlier this year, which led to the removal of 154,995 registrations deemed abandoned or inactive for at least four years. This action has been contentious, drawing criticism from civil rights organizations who argue that such measures represent voter suppression.

He defended these actions by stating that the effort to identify and remove inactive registrations is part of an ongoing campaign to ensure that the voter registry is accurate and up to date. As the November presidential election approaches, he has indicated that further cancellations could occur.

To bolster efforts in this area, LaRose has characterized his office’s citizenship verification efforts this year as the most thorough in its history. This comprehensive approach utilizes a variety of resources, including data from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Homeland Security’s federal database of noncitizens, the Social Security Administration, and federal jury pool information.

The discourse surrounding these measures underscores a significant tension between ensuring electoral integrity and protecting voter access. With the presidential election approaching, it remains a pivotal issue in Ohio and beyond, as various stakeholders continue to advocate for or against stricter voter verification processes.

Ohio’s political landscape is marked by a commitment from Republican leaders to address concerns about voter fraud, despite the scant evidence of such incidents impacting elections in a meaningful way. As new cases emerge and measures are implemented in the run-up to the election, the implications of these actions will likely be closely scrutinized by both supporters and critics.

This situation in Ohio reflects a nationwide debate on voting rights and election integrity, as states across the country grapple with similar challenges. In the environment leading to the presidential election, the approach taken by election officials in Ohio may set precedents that influence discussions and legislation in other states as well.