Ohio’s secretary of state has referred dozens of noncitizens and double voters for potential prosecution in eight states and Washington, D.C., raising significant concerns about the integrity of elections. The investigation, led by Frank LaRose, has uncovered evidence of 30 non-U.S. citizens who were registered to vote in Ohio. In addition, the investigation found that 11 individuals from Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, and South Carolina have voted in multiple jurisdictions. LaRose emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards of election integrity, stating that ‘the only way to maintain Ohio’s high standard of election integrity is to enforce the law whenever it’s broken.’
LaRose’s office conducted the investigation by cross-referencing Ohio’s voter registry against federal and state data sources. The findings led to a referral to the attorneys general of all involved states, signaling a potential legal action against individuals suspected of election fraud. LaRose also addressed criticism from opponents, noting that even a single illegal vote could have a significant impact on election outcomes, such as deciding a local levy or the majority control of a legislative chamber. He further highlighted that during the recent election, a single vote in Licking County determined the outcome of a local levy after the final certified count.
The investigation comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s lawsuit against North Carolina’s election officials, alleging violations of the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The Department of Justice claims that North Carolina’s voter registration form did not clearly require applicants to provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number if they did not have a license. The lawsuit argues that the state’s failure to ensure compliance with HAVA has led to numerous voters being registered despite incomplete information, potentially undermining election integrity. Earlier this year, the previous elections board, which had a Democratic majority, acknowledged the issue but opted not to contact voters registered since 2004 to update their information in time for the 2024 elections.