Ohio Investigation Finds Evidence Of Noncitizen Voter Registrations

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Tuesday revealed his office found evidence of 30 noncitizens registered to vote in the state. The election chief also discovered that individuals from seven different states and Washington, D.C., may have illegally voted in multiple jurisdictions.

“We must send a clear message that election fraud won’t be tolerated,” said Secretary LaRose in a Tuesday press release. “The only way to maintain Ohio’s high standard of election integrity is to enforce the law whenever it’s broken. Through the investigations of our Public Integrity Division’s Election Integrity Unit, we are rooting out lawbreakers so we can bring accountability and justice.”

According to Fox News, “Ohio’s Election Integrity Unit conducted the investigation by reviewing Ohio’s voter registry and comparing it with federal and state data.” The state is now pursuing legal action as LaRose “sent letters to the attorneys general of all states involved in the investigation and referred the individuals for prosecution.”

In a letter to Ohio Attorney General Yost, LaRose noted how “Even one illegal vote can spoil the outcome of an election for the citizenry at large, whether it be a school levy, majority control of a legislative chamber, or even a statewide election contest,” according to the Tuesday press release.

The Ohio General Assembly is “currently considering legislation to make the division’s Election Integrity Unit a permanent function of the office,” the release adds.

LaRose is also taking other steps to ensure the integrity of Ohio’s elections.

On Monday, the secretary of state announced the release of “enhanced security standards” for county boards of elections across the state.

“Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly relentless and effective … this updated guidance should reassure voters that we take seriously our duty to keep Ohio’s elections accurate, accountable and secure,” LaRose said in a Monday statement.

LaRose also launched an online portal earlier this year “increasing citizens’ ability to ensure accurate voter rolls,” as The Federalist previously reported.

[READ: Exclusive: Ohio Elections Chief Launches Portal Granting Citizens Greater Voter Roll Oversight]

As Fox News noted Tuesday, LaRosa’s referrals of the 30 noncitizens allegedly registered to vote and potential double voters come only days after the Trump administration sued the North Carolina State Board of Elections over its failure to “maintain an accurate voter list.”

As The Federalist’s Breccan Thies reported last week, the DOJ lawsuit alleges the NCSBE failed to require proper identification while registering people to vote.