Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has identified potential election fraud involving noncitizen registrations and double voting across eight states and Washington, D.C. The findings have been referred to the respective state attorneys general for further investigation and possible prosecution.
LaRose’s office discovered 30 instances of noncitizens registered to vote in Ohio and 11 individuals who allegedly voted in multiple jurisdictions, including Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. These cases were identified through a comprehensive review of Ohio’s voter registration database, cross-referenced with state and federal data sources.
In a statement, LaRose emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity: We’ve so far identified 597 individuals who’ve registered to vote in Ohio despite not being citizens of the United States, as our state constitution requires. The evidence includes 138 individuals who appear to have cast a ballot in an Ohio election during the time state and federal records show they lacked citizenship status. The law requires me to refer these individuals to the attorney general, and that’s what we’re doing today.”
The referrals have been sent to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the attorneys general of the other affected states and D.C. These officials will determine whether to pursue further investigation or prosecution based on the evidence provided.
This development follows a previous audit by LaRose’s office, which identified 597 individuals registered to vote in Ohio despite not being U.S. citizens. Of these, 138 appeared to have cast ballots in Ohio elections.
While instances of noncitizen voting are rare, LaRose’s actions underscore a commitment to addressing any breaches in election laws. The ongoing investigations aim to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in the electoral process, thereby preserving the integrity of elections across the involved states.
