A significant shift has occurred in Ohio’s election integrity efforts, secured through a newly established data-sharing agreement. This pact grants the state unprecedented, long-term access to crucial federal records, promising a more accurate and reliable voter roll.
For years, Ohio officials faced hurdles in verifying voter citizenship due to limited and expensive access to the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database. The new agreement, finalized with the Department of Homeland Security, guarantees Ohio at least two decades of unfettered access, along with the ability to conduct large-scale data verification.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose emphasized the core principle driving this initiative: ensuring only eligible U.S. citizens are registered to vote. He stated the agreement provides the necessary tools to fulfill this fundamental duty and safeguard the integrity of elections within the state.
This breakthrough resolves a prior legal challenge LaRose initiated against the Department of Homeland Security during the previous administration. Previously, access to the SAVE database was not only restricted but also came with substantial per-query costs, hindering comprehensive verification efforts.
The impact of proactive voter roll maintenance is already evident. Before the 2024 election, Ohio officials removed tens of thousands of inaccurate registrations. This included identifying and reporting over 1,000 suspected non-citizen registrations to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution.
Investigations revealed disturbing patterns within those registrations. Over 160 individuals appeared to have illegally cast ballots in federal elections since 2018, while nearly 100 were flagged for potentially voting in multiple states during the same election cycle.
The scope of irregularities extended further, with evidence suggesting 14 individuals voted after their documented date of death, four engaged in illegal ballot harvesting, and two registered using unlawful addresses. These findings underscore the critical need for robust verification processes.
Beyond identifying potential fraud, the state also focused on removing registrations deemed abandoned or inactive. Over 155,000 such registrations were purged from the rolls, representing individuals who hadn’t participated in elections for at least four consecutive years.
This comprehensive effort represents a significant step towards bolstering election security in Ohio, demonstrating a commitment to accuracy and upholding the principles of fair and legitimate elections. The long-term data access ensures continued vigilance and proactive maintenance of the state’s voter rolls.
