COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohio commenced early ballot acceptance for the upcoming elections, several conflicts regarding voter rights remained unresolved. The elections include a presidential race, a significant U.S. Senate contest, and a redistricting measure that have attracted much attention this fall.
Late last week, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters notified Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose about issues surrounding the removal of voters from rolls in various counties due to third-party challenges. These advocacy organizations claimed such removals were in violation of the National Voting Registration Act.
LaRose’s office indicated that he cast a tie vote to retain the majority of the disputed voters in Delaware County on the registration rolls. Additionally, his office is currently reviewing claims regarding three more counties.
National organizations connected to former President Donald Trump have been actively promoting grassroots initiatives to challenge numerous voter registrations. LaRose commended these efforts, asserting that maintaining accurate voter rolls is a fundamental aspect of running credible elections, as stated by his spokesperson Dan Lusheck.
“Ohio is recognized for conducting some of the most transparent elections in the United States, and we take pride in that,” Lusheck added.
In the Ohio Statehouse, Democratic representatives voiced their discontent regarding LaRose’s removal of 155,000 voter registration records in August. LaRose defended the action as a legally required measure targeting records of individuals deemed inactive, noncitizens, deceased, or otherwise ineligible.
On Monday, Democratic State Rep. Elliot Forhan from Cleveland filed an official challenge with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, seeking to reinstate 741 voters in the county—a critical stronghold for Democrats potentially influential in U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s closely contested reelection campaign against Bernie Moreno.
Another Cleveland-area Democrat, State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, sent a letter to LaRose reiterating her request for supplementary records related to the office’s removal process. She reported discovering over 1,000 voters wrongfully removed in Cuyahoga County alone, aided by information from previously disclosed records, and urged for a third-party audit.
“If Frank LaRose isn’t committed to ensuring every eligible voter can cast their ballot in Ohio, at the very least, he should provide public records so I can assist him,” Sweeney stated.
Lusheck responded that LaRose’s office already provided the records requested by Sweeney back in June, claiming she did not pursue more documentation until she wanted to launch a political maneuver.
An additional matter yet to be resolved involves a September lawsuit by the Ohio Democratic Party, which contests a directive issued by LaRose prohibiting individuals assisting voters with disabilities from using drop boxes for ballot submissions.
This directive followed a federal judge’s decision to strike down parts of Ohio’s extensive 2023 election law in July, which had allowed more individuals to help those with disabilities submit their ballots while implementing specific requirements, such as delivering ballots directly to board of elections offices and verifying identities through a signed form.
LaRose described this directive as a measure to prevent ballot harvesting, while Democrats contended it was against the law.
The Ohio Supreme Court is currently handling this case, but three of its seven justices, consisting of two Democrats and a Republican—all seeking election this fall—have recused themselves. A fourth justice was approached for recusal but declined to do so.
In a recent development, the Republican National Committee alongside the Ohio Republican Party announced their intention to become involved in the lawsuit.
“Secretary LaRose is taking vital actions to protect Ohio’s elections. Yet again, Democrats are attempting to undermine sensible protections that ensure voting remains accessible while preventing fraud,” said Michael Whatley, Chairman of the national committee. He emphasized that their priority is to thwart any attempts to eliminate ballot safeguards just before the election.
