Ohio Removes 499 Noncitizen Voter Registrations

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced the removal of nearly 500 non-citizen voter registrations from the state's voter rolls, citing compliance with the Ohio Constitution, which restricts voting to U.S. citizens. This action is part of a larger audit of the voter registration database, which also recently included the removal of over 155,000 registrations deemed abandoned or inactive. The identification of non-citizen voters was facilitated through a review of records from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and many of those affected had previously confirmed their non-citizen status. Critics, including the ACLU, argue that such measures disproportionately impact unhoused individuals and others who may be vulnerable in the registration process. LaRose emphasized the importance of voter integrity, stating that the law requires him to ensure only eligible voters participate in elections. The investigation into voter citizenship is ongoing, and further removals may occur as the state prepares for the upcoming presidential election.