Following the removal of almost 500 individuals who were not citizens from Ohio’s voter registrations, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the clearance of over 150,000 additional voter registrations. This action was part of this year’s cleanup across all 88 counties, targeting voters who had not participated in recent elections or had outdated registration details. In total, the number of registrations cancelled in this effort amounted to 154,995.
This step is a continuation of a broader review of Ohio’s voter registration lists, which LaRose has branded as a crucial move towards ensuring the integrity of the voter registry ahead of the upcoming General Election in November.
LaRose emphasized the importance of maintaining current and accurate voter lists for all Ohioans, irrespective of their political leanings, arguing that such diligence is necessary to prevent fraud and guarantee that every vote counts. This practice of updating voter rolls is not new and has been a routine part of Ohio’s election preparations under both Republican and Democratic administrations. LaRose commended the bipartisan work that goes into making the voting process both accessible and secure.
The latest group of voters to be struck off the list were either found to have relocated permanently, as indicated by their national change of address forms, or had been inactive on the voter rolls without being previously removed. In Ohio, voters risk losing their registration status if they do not vote in any election for four years, fail to confirm their voter registration during this period, and do not reply to mailed notifications from the state.
Just a week prior, LaRose had also removed 499 voters who were identified as noncitizens through verification with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and further confirmation by federal authorities. These individuals did not respond to LaRose’s office requests to verify their citizenship status or to withdraw their voter registration. Removed voters have the option to vote provisionally, with their ballot being counted upon presenting valid proof of citizenship.
