An audit conducted prior to the pivotal November 2024 election has revealed significant problems with the voter registration records in Ohio. The audit identified hundreds of noncitizens who are currently registered to vote within the state.
In response, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is taking steps to remove these unlawfully registered foreign nationals from the voter rolls. The audit specifically identified 499 individuals who were not U.S. citizens yet held voter registrations.
The removals, announced on Thursday, include those who acknowledged their noncitizen status to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This information was subsequently cross-referenced with the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, which also confirmed their noncitizen status. State officials had previously provided these individuals with the opportunity to voluntarily remove themselves from the voter rolls, but they did not take action.
“These individuals failed to respond to notices from the Secretary of State’s office asking that they either confirm their citizenship status or cancel their registration,” LaRose’s office said in a statement.
Authorities have made it clear that in the event of losing registration due to the actions taken on Thursday, individuals are eligible to cast a provisional ballot.
However, this ballot will only “be counted upon proof of citizenship,” LaRose confirmed.
“I swore an oath to uphold the constitution of our state, and that document clearly states that only United States citizens can participate in Ohio elections,” LaRose said in a statement.
“That means I’m duty-bound to make sure people who haven’t yet earned citizenship in this country aren’t voting.
“If or when they do become citizens, I’ll be the first one to congratulate them and welcome them to the franchise, but until then the law requires us to remove ineligible registrations to prevent illegal voting.”
Ohio law mandates that an individual must have confirmed their lack of citizenship to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles on two separate occasions in order to be removed from voter rolls. Additionally, they must have either updated their voter registration or voted between the two occasions.
In May, Ohio removed 136 noncitizens from its voter rolls following an internal investigation based on state data. Secretary of State LaRose urged the Biden administration to release the federal SAVE data, which was eventually provided, leading to further actions on Thursday.
Improper voter registration may lead to prosecution in certain cases, although Secretary LaRose emphasized that not all instances are criminal. The Election Integrity Unit in his office will refer cases for criminal prosecution when necessary.
“I want to give these folks the benefit of the doubt and say that most of them didn’t intend to break the law,” LaRose said.
The audit in Ohio is still in progress. Secretary LaRose’s office has indicated that there could be additional announcements regarding voter roll purges as Election Day approaches. Furthermore, approximately 155,000 registrations that have been deemed abandoned and inactive for a minimum of four consecutive years have been removed by the state.
“We want to make sure a mistaken registration doesn’t become an illegal vote,” LaRose said.
“We also want to make sure that lawfully registered citizens can participate seamlessly in the process.”