Ohio is urging the Biden administration to provide access to federal citizenship data.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose took decisive action on Tuesday by ordering the purging of “non-citizens” from the state’s voter rolls, following a thorough review that uncovered over 100 Ohio residents registered to vote despite lacking U.S. citizenship.
The investigation, conducted by Ohio’s Public Integrity Division, meticulously examined data from the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and identified 137 individuals who were listed on the voter rolls despite having confirmed twice that they were not U.S. citizens. According to Ohio law, individuals must confirm their lack of citizenship to the BMV on two separate occasions and also update their voter registration or vote between the two occasions to be removed from voter rolls.
LaRose’s office emphasized that these individuals will be notified at least twice by written notices from the Secretary of State’s office, urging them to confirm their citizenship status or cancel their registration. Failure to respond to these notices will lead to the removal of their registration from the voter rolls by the county boards of elections.
While the improper voter registration could potentially result in prosecution for some, LaRose underscored the importance of understanding that not all instances are criminal. He acknowledged that some registrations may stem from honest mistakes, with individuals inadvertently submitting registration forms due to communication barriers or misunderstandings.
To ensure the accuracy and integrity of Ohio’s elections systems, LaRose’s office is exploring avenues to access additional sources of citizenship data. This includes reaching out to the Biden administration to grant access to various federal databases containing citizenship information. Specifically, Ohio seeks access to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ SAVE database, which houses extensive citizenship data for individuals entering the U.S. Additionally, LaRose’s office aims to obtain citizenship information from the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and federal district court records revealing individuals disqualified from jury service due to lack of U.S. citizenship.
LaRose’s proactive approach in securing comprehensive citizenship data reflects his commitment to upholding the integrity of Ohio’s elections systems. As the vice chairman of the Republican Secretaries of State Committee, LaRose aims to set a precedent for other GOP-led states by demonstrating a rigorous and principled approach to electoral management.
In light of upcoming secretary of state races across the nation, LaRose’s leadership role within the Republican Secretaries of State Committee takes on added significance. By championing transparency, accountability, and adherence to electoral laws, LaRose seeks to fortify Ohio’s elections systems and serve as a beacon of integrity for other states to emulate.
