Ohio establishes Election Integrity Office for transparent future elections.
Ohio Launches New Office to Ensure Transparency in Elections
Last week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the launch of a new office in Ohio dedicated to ensuring transparency in elections. According to a press release by LaRose, the Office of Data Analytics and Archives, housed within the secretary of state’s office, will be the first-ever effort by any state to adopt a clear and consistent method for retaining election data. This initiative was made possible through funding from the DATA Act, included in Ohio’s recent biennial operating budget.
“Election officials haven’t been required to keep electronic records after an election, so they’re often just erasing and discarding the data instead of archiving it for transparency,” said LaRose. “There’s also no standard definition for these records, which leads to confusing outcomes for anyone trying to analyze election results. We’re about to change all of that. This legislation is really a game-changer for election integrity, and I’m proud that Ohio is once again leading the way.”
The DATA Act, introduced by LaRose and GOP state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, contains four key provisions aimed at bringing transparency to Ohio’s voter data and elections. The first provision establishes standard definitions of key election data points, allowing for more accurate post-election analysis. The second provision designates the Office of Data Analytics and Archives as a clearinghouse for the retention and review of electronic election records.
The law also increases public access to election data by allowing the Office of Data Analytics and Archives to publish information online for auditing purposes and comparative analysis year-over-year. Additionally, all election data will be transmitted to the office following any election.
Election integrity groups, such as the Voter Reference Foundation (VRF), have celebrated the passage of this law. VRF, which ranks states based on their transparency with data and overall election operations, noted that Ohio’s passage of the DATA Act increased its score by 8 points, making it the second “most transparent” state in the nation.
“Ohio’s persistent commitment to election integrity has increased their data transparency score,” said VRF President Gina Swoboda. “Ohio is a model for other states to increase their transparency.”
For more information on VRF’s grading methodology, click here.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
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