Ohio refers more than 1,000 alleged noncitizen voter registrations to DOJ; 167 appear to have cast ballots, secretary says
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office identified 1,084 apparent noncitizen voter registrations and referred the cases to the U.S. Department of Justice; officials say 167 individuals appear to have cast ballots amid voter-roll reviews before 2024.
Key takeaways
- 1,084 cases of apparent noncitizen registrations were referred to the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal division for review and possible prosecution.
- 167 of those referrals appear to involve people who cast ballots in federal elections since 2018.
- 135 additional individuals were referred for potential prosecution tied to other alleged unlawful voting activity.
- Ohio used multiple federal and state data sources in a targeted, data-driven audit to flag mismatches and irregularities.
Main details
How the findings were reached
LaRose said his office ran cross-checks across several databases, including the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, the Social Security Administration, federal jury-pool records and other sources to flag registrations that did not match citizenship records. The effort was described as a targeted, data-driven review conducted by the office’s Election Integrity Unit.
“Ohio has earned its reputation as the Gold Standard, and our Election Integrity Unit continues to prove why,” LaRose said, adding his office will pursue enforcement where the evidence supports it.
Scope of alleged irregularities
Beyond the 1,084 noncitizen referrals and the 135 additional potential prosecutions, LaRose’s office flagged several other categories that were forwarded to federal prosecutors:
- 99 individuals who appear to have voted in two different states in the same federal election.
- 16 people who appear to have voted twice in Ohio in the same federal election.
- 14 individuals who appear to have voted in a federal election after the date of their death.
- 4 people who appear to have engaged in ballot harvesting.
- 2 individuals who registered at an unlawful residence.
LaRose’s office said these categories were compiled after cross-referencing state and federal records and included with the referrals to the DOJ.
Voter-roll maintenance and prior actions
Officials noted ongoing efforts to clean voter rolls: the office reported removing more than 155,000 registrations confirmed to be abandoned or inactive for at least four consecutive years. Earlier this year, LaRose sued the Biden administration seeking additional federal data he said would help Ohio identify potentially ineligible voters more quickly, arguing fuller federal cooperation would improve detection and correction of improper registrations.
What referral to the DOJ means
Referral does not equal guilt. Cases sent to the U.S. Department of Justice’s criminal division will be independently reviewed by federal prosecutors, who will decide whether to open criminal investigations or bring charges under established legal standards.
LaRose framed the referrals as lawful steps to hold accountable anyone who may have tried to subvert election rules, with the state’s role to identify apparent problems and pass substantiated cases to prosecutors for independent vetting.
Reactions and context
Supporters of rigorous voter-roll maintenance say the findings demonstrate the value of routine verification and coordinated data-sharing. Civil-rights and voting-rights advocates caution that overly aggressive purges can inadvertently remove eligible voters, especially among marginalized communities, and emphasize transparent procedures and appeals processes.
LaRose’s team says its methods rely on federal and state records to minimize wrongful removals and that publicizing removal and referral numbers is part of broader transparency efforts.
Transparency and next steps
The DOJ review will determine whether charges are warranted. If prosecutions proceed, they would target deliberate attempts to register or vote when ineligible. State officials said routine maintenance will continue and that improving data-sharing remains a priority as the state prepares for the 2024 election cycle.
Implications for The High Desert, California
Economic impact: Direct economic effects are likely minimal, but national attention may prompt county election offices to consider investments in updated verification tools that could affect local budgets or grant requests.
Political consequences: The announcement may resonate with moderate conservative voters who prioritize election security; local officials might cite Ohio’s findings when arguing for stricter verification protocols, while community leaders may stress balancing accuracy with voter protections.
Social and cultural effects: News of irregularities can increase concern about election integrity, potentially motivating volunteer poll monitoring or civic education efforts. Messaging that emphasizes transparent audits and protections for eligible voters is likely to appeal to residents seeking both fair access and secure elections.
Practical steps for officials and voters:
- Ensure clear, accessible instructions for voters to verify or correct registration records.
- Publish routine reports on voter-roll maintenance to increase transparency.
- Coordinate with state and federal partners to adopt data-sharing best practices while safeguarding privacy.
- Offer community workshops explaining audits and how residents can confirm their registration status.
Voters in the High Desert should check registration status ahead of 2024 and follow county election guidance if they receive notices or believe an error has been made.
Sources
Reporting by Times Media Service. For the original coverage, see Fox News coverage — “Ohio uncovers over 1,000 noncitizens appearing to be registered to vote, sends cases to DOJ for prosecution”.
