Ohio is securing another win for election integrity by striking a deal with the federal government that Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has called “historic.”
On Monday, LaRose, a Republican, announced the “long-term” agreement with the federal government to verify voter registration eligibility.
“Ohio has a duty to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, and this agreement gives us the tools to do that job right,” LaRose said in a press release. “I appreciate the Trump administration for working with us to deliver long-term access to the federal data needed to protect election integrity.”
The recently announced agreement between Ohio and the federal government ensures that the Buckeye State has access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE System for short, for the next 20 years.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March allowing states to access the SAVE System, which allows for states to cross-check voter registration data. A judge recently upheld that executive order.
While there is an agreement in place with the Trump administration, which LaRose’s office says will “ensure unprecedented access to citizenship and other federal records for use in verifying voter registration eligibility,” the Biden administration was not so compliant. This caused Ohio and other states, also experiencing similar issues, to sue the Department of Homeland Security under the previous administration.
An Agreement That Was a Long Time Coming
Ohio reached an agreement with the Trump administration because of the litigation that began in the Biden era. Once a federal court approves the agreement filed last week, LaRose’s office explained, the litigation will come to an end.
The Daily Signal reached out to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for comment, but did not hear back.
The litigation started in October 2024 because the Biden administration threw up roadblocks when LaRose sought increased access from DHS to verify the citizenship of voters.
“The Secretary’s office made four requests over the course of several months, which were ultimately denied by the Biden administration. The Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security only responded after Ohio Congressman and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent a letter to then-Secretary Mayorkas asking why DHS would not respond to Ohio’s requests,” the press release further explained. “In October 2024, Secretary LaRose sued the Biden DHS and Secretary Mayorkas, seeking access to the databases under federal law.”
The Bigger Picture
LaRose and the increasingly red state of Ohio have been focused on election integrity for years.
“Ohio has taken substantial actions in recent years to fortify and expand its voter list maintenance protocols, particularly aimed at enforcing a new state constitutional citizenship voting requirement,” the press release also mentioned. A state ballot initiative overwhelmingly passed in 2022 that reaffirmed that only citizens can vote in the Buckeye State.
Senate Bill 293 also passed the state Legislature in Ohio, which LaRose testified in favor of, though Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has yet to sign it. The bill “modif[ies] the deadlines governing the return of absent voter’s ballots” and also “codifies the Ohio Secretary of State’s current practice of reviewing the Statewide Voter Registration Database, on a monthly basis.”
LaRose’s announcement comes weeks after he announced a win on keeping foreign interference out of elections. As a result of a dropped lawsuit, a state law banning foreign contributions for ballot-measure campaigns has been upheld.
Rebecca Downs is the Ohio correspondent for The Daily Signal.
Reprinted with Permission from The Daily Signal – By Rebecca Downs
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
When did honest elections become an oxymoron? And when did becoming properly vetted apply to everything except voting? Democrats have gone so far as to insult the intelligence of real Americans who can do just about everything except get identification? But it isn’t about real citizens, it’s about the undocumented that vote only for dems. The bottom line is, you can’t cheat on a mass scale if there’s accountability. As for dead people voting, there’s more of them but dems haven’t figured out a way to tap that yet, but a lot are still on the voter rolls because it’s just so inconvenient.
Elections are pointless if they are rigged, that is the reason “dems” are fighting the law tooth and nail but don’t get nailed for it, law in the first place must apply to them, how they’ve managed to escape it and got away with it is beyond understanding. It only applies to non dems. Rotten.Voter appears to be OK with the lie.We are so conditioned to it that anyone trying to do right is lauded as a hero. Sad and depressing. that we’ve learned to accept and expect the deceit and lie.
Mike, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?SIGN SINATE BILL 23 NOW!!!
Putting integrity back into Elections is paramount! This must be mandated throughout all 50 States, without exception! Elections are meant to be fair and balanced for every single voter! All too often you hear of problems with Election fraud and corruption in States where Democrats are in and have been in control. Usually when you go in to investigate these allegations you’re met with stiff opposition, which immediately sends up a Red Flag. If there’s nothing to hide, you shouldn’t be faced with hostile resistance! Time to bring to bear all States to become compliant with a Federal Law where Integrity is fundamental, a prerequisite, for all havinf peace of mind their Vote is counted fairly and just!
Come out from under that rock you are living under. Russian collusion has proven false so clearly that even democrats have to say it is a lie. If you still believe this than I fear for your sanity.