Frank LaRose
Those who voted, registered illegally could face prosecution
More than 100 non-citizens could face penalties for having cast ballots or being illegally registered to vote during the 2020 election cycle, but it may take years to fully investigate and prosecute them. Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently announced plans to refer 104 cases of non-citizens being illegally registered to vote and 13 other […]
Some voter education programs may be in jeopardy due to new Ohio law
With Ohio searching for more poll workers during the pandemic last year, Secretary of State Frank LaRose had to get creative. Ohioans needed their hair cut after being indoors for months. And, perhaps just as much, they wanted to go out again for drinks. So LaRose announced two new programs meant to spur voter registration […]
LaRose: 104 illegally registered to vote in Ohio, 13 voted in 2020
More than 100 people in Ohio are accused of illegally registering to vote and casting ballots during the 2020 election cycle, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Monday. LaRose acknowledged some of these cases involve “honest mistakes” and reflect only a small portion of the millions of ballots cast here in 2020. Though he touted […]
Cherry bombs in drop boxes? Elections officials say Ohio boxes are secure
Ohio lawmakers are currently considering a number of changes to state elections law, with one of the proposals dealing with the use of ballot drop boxes. House Bill 294, known as the “Ohio Election Security and Modernization Act,” would prohibit counties from placing drop boxes anywhere besides at the boards of elections offices. Voters would […]
What changes Ohio elections officials do — and don’t — want to see
The organization representing elections officials throughout Ohio sees a bill proposing numerous elections changes as a mixed bag. There are some provisions in House Bill 294 the Ohio Association of Elections Officials would like to see adjusted, executive director Aaron Ockerman said Monday, while there are others it supports. One item in particular, to eliminate […]
Election reform battle comes to Ohio with new Republican proposals
The 2020 election in Ohio, Republicans will tell you, was perhaps the most successful in state history. Ohio recorded its highest turnout ever, despite a pandemic that saw COVID-19 cases rising in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Secretary of State Frank LaRose led a major poll worker recruitment drive and coordinated safety protocols […]
Ohio House GOP’s proposed voting law changes, explained
Two Republican lawmakers recently unveiled their election reform bill to colleagues, proposing changes to how Ohioans can register to vote and cast absentee ballots in future elections. The bill has not yet been introduced, but Reps. Bill Seitz of Green Twp. and Sharon Ray of Wadsworth outlined their proposals in a cosponsor request to fellow […]
Bill seeks to end ‘dark money’ spending in Ohio elections
Republican lawmakers are proposing to revamp some of Ohio’s campaign finance laws that would shine a light on “dark money” groups. Public officials from both parties have called for reforms in the wake of the House Bill 6 scandal, which saw the speaker of the Ohio House arrested as well as widespread attention paid to […]
Ohio bill would require hundreds of ballot drop boxes be installed across state
Democratic lawmakers want to increase voter drop box access throughout the state of Ohio, proposing to install hundreds of boxes for future elections. State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland, and Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, believe the additional drop boxes will make voting more convenient for Ohioans seeking to cast absentee ballots. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, […]
How national voting rights bill would impact Ohio’s election system
As state legislatures across the country consider how to alter their election systems, Democrats in Congress are pushing for nationwide reforms they say would make voting more accessible to all Americans. Several of the changes outlined in House Resolution 1 are already in place here in Ohio. Groups making up the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition […]
Mailbag: Will any Ohio lawmakers run for Rob Portman’s seat?
Welcome back to another installment of the Mailbag, the only column in Ohio that politicians are giving serious consideration to reading. Let’s get to it! Got a question about Ohio politics/government? Send them by email to [email protected] or tweet them to @tylerjoelb. Anyone in the Ohio legislature looking at running for Sen. Rob Portman’s seat? […]
Sen. Rob Portman announces he will not run for re-election in 2022
Sen. Rob Portman announced Monday he would not be running for a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2022. The Cincinnati Republican said he intends to use his final two years in public office to “get a lot done,” noting a hopefulness of working with the Biden administration on the COVID-19 pandemic response and […]