Ohio Purges 499 Noncitizens From Voter Rolls In Preparation For Presidential Election

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has directed county boards of elections to remove 499 noncitizens from the state’s voter rolls as part of an ongoing audit aimed at ensuring voter eligibility ahead of the November presidential election. This move is part of a broader effort to maintain the accuracy and integrity of Ohio’s voter registration database.

LaRose, in a press release, highlighted his constitutional responsibilities, stating, “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. 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.”

This directive follows a previous initiative in May, where LaRose’s office identified and removed 137 illegal immigrants from voter rolls. The current multiphase audit by the Public Integrity Division and Office of Data Analytics and Archives aims to ensure compliance with Ohio’s citizenship requirement for voters.

In addition to targeting noncitizens, Ohio has also removed nearly 155,000 inactive registrations that had been dormant for four consecutive years. These steps are crucial for preventing potential illegal voting and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

The potential impact of noncitizen voting has been a key issue for the GOP during this election cycle. Prominent Republicans, such as Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have expressed support for federal legislation to ban noncitizen voting.

Conversely, Democrats like Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) caution that such measures could unintentionally disenfranchise American citizens, including military personnel stationed overseas and women who have changed their names after marriage.

As Ohio continues its voter roll audit, LaRose remains dedicated to upholding the state’s constitutional requirements, ensuring that only eligible citizens are allowed to vote in the upcoming elections. This commitment underscores the importance of election integrity and the accurate maintenance of voter registration records.