On Thursday, Frank LaRose, the Republican Secretary of State for Ohio, announced the removal of 499 non-citizens from the voter registration lists across the state’s counties. This decision is part of a broader effort to scrutinize the voter rolls in anticipation of the 2024 elections.
The initiative to review the registrations began in May following discoveries by the Ohio Public Integrity Division that 137 individuals had been improperly registered to vote, despite previous acknowledgments of their non-citizen status.
LaRose’s recent directive focuses on those who have identified themselves as non-citizens at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), a status further validated through the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database.
LaRose reiterated his commitment to maintaining the integrity of Ohio’s electoral process, stating, “I took an oath to uphold our state’s constitution, and according to that constitution, only U.S. citizens are granted the privilege of voting in Ohio’s elections. Therefore, it’s my responsibility to ensure that those not yet naturalized as citizens are not participating in our elections. However, once they gain citizenship, I look forward to welcoming them as voters with open arms, but until that point, we must adhere to the law by cancelling registrations that don’t qualify to prevent any form of illegal voting.”
He further pointed out that the ongoing review of the voter lists aims to safeguard against electoral fraud. Affected individuals have the option to cast a provisional vote, which will be considered valid provided they can subsequently verify their U.S. citizenship.
LaRose extended empathy towards those impacted by the directive, expressing his belief that most did not knowingly violate the law. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that individuals who may have registered in error do not cast unlawful votes, while also facilitating the participation of those who have recently become citizens.
In recent elections, Ohio has shown a preference for the Republican candidates, with Donald Trump securing victories in both 2016 and 2020. Predictions suggest a similar outcome for 2024, with Trump leading against Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumed Democratic contender, by approximately 10 points in the polls.
Additionally, LaRose urged Congress to endorse the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation proposed by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) in May, demanding proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Despite passing the House, the bill faced substantial opposition, with nearly all Democrats voting against it and President Biden expressing his disagreement.
