Republicans in the Ohio Legislature are working to pass a law codifying the election integrity office whose creation Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) announced last year.
LaRose declared last October he would set up the Public Integrity Division in his office to improve the security, accuracy, and accessibility of elections in the Buckeye State. The new department consolidates separate divisions dealing with campaign-finance administration, voter registration, election investigations, and cybersecurity.
Earlier this month, State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) introduced a measure permanently authorizing the restructuring LaRose is pursuing. The state senator was a major player in Republicans’ successful effort to require voters to show photographic identification to vote in Ohio. She also played a strong role in enhancing election audits and said her new legislation will build on these recent successes.
“I have worked hard to stop voter fraud because it not only erodes trust in elections, but also our form of government,” Gavarone said in a statement. “While we have been fortunate that current Secretary of State Frank LaRose takes voter fraud so seriously, a future officeholder may not. This bill will make certain that fighting voter fraud remains a top priority regardless of who is in office, and provide greater transparency and confidence in Ohio’s election results.”
The new office will focus on investigating instances of both voter fraud and voter suppression. State residents may submit complaints to the division that staff may refer to appropriate agencies. The office will periodically report to legislators on the frequency of alleged violations.
LaRose has touted Ohio’s record of keeping voter fraud rare, though he has noted it does happen and believes taking steps like creating this new department will make election misconduct even less frequent. In a report last month, the secretary observed his office has referred 630 cases of possible criminal voter fraud to law enforcement. Those included 510 incidents of potential noncitizen voting, 97 cases of people allegedly voting in more than one state, and 23 possible instances of election fraudsters using deceased persons’ registrations.
Left-wing opponents of new election-security measures suggest that the new state office will somehow result in disenfranchisement.
“Rather than uncover fraud, these investigations are more likely to harass and intimidate voters,” the liberal organization Democracy Docket stated in its bill summary.
The legislation awaits consideration by the Senate General Government Committee.
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Bradley Vasoli is managing editor of The Ohio Star. Follow Brad on Twitter at @BVasoli. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Frank LaRose” by Frank LaRose. Background Photo “Election Day” by Phil Roeder. CC BY 2.0.
