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This week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose certified the May 3rd Primary Election. Official results of the election, data breakdowns, and more.

Poll worker Recruitment: We need you! Sign up to be a poll worker for the August 2nd Primary at VoteOhio.gov/DefendDemocracy

 

Voter Registration: Register or update your registration before the July 5th deadline at VoteOhio.gov

Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections continued conducting post-election audits of the May 3rd Primary Election this week. Unlike other states, after every Ohio election, county boards of elections are required to conduct a comprehensive audit of the results to ensure accuracy, during which they compare fidelity between the electronic tabulation and the paper ballots. This week, Secretary LaRose visited with county commissioners and election officials from Sandusky County to discuss their post-election audit progress and offered his services and counsel as they prepare for the August 2nd Primary Election.

 

In recent years, these audits have found a 99.9% accuracy rate in Ohio elections, helping to bolster voter confidence in the integrity and security of Ohio elections and ensure accountability in the county boards that administer them. You can learn more about Ohio’s post-election audit process by watching our video.

 

Secretary LaRose met with a group of business and community leaders this week in Ashland. Among other things, the Secretary highlighted his efforts to help protect businesses from identity theft and other threats facing Ohio entrepreneurs. When most people think of identity theft, they imagine an individual victim’s Social Security or credit card number being stolen. However, identity theft does not just affect individuals. Business identity theft, or corporate or commercial identity theft, occurs when a business’s identity is fraudulently used to transact business and establish lines of credit with banks and/or vendors. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, each year, one out of every ten people is a victim of identity theft. Like consumer identity theft, business identity theft can result in potentially ruinous consequences. Both the business and people associated with it can be hurt by this crime. Businesses can protect themselves from these threats by signing up for notifications through the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. Through this program, businesses will be alerted anytime a change is made to their business filing. Learn more.

 

The Secretary also met with a group of business owners in central Ohio as part of a roundtable discussion with the Columbus Christian Business Network. In addition to discussing the importance of entrepreneurship and economic development, the Secretary discussed new resources available to businesses including improvements to how minority businesses are certified in the state. Learn more about resources available for new business development.

Securing an adequate number of Election Day poll workers is always a challenge, but with a newly added August 2nd primary during a time of year when most Ohioans are not thinking about an election, poll worker recruitment must be a top priority. The Secretary worked with the Ohio General Assembly recently to pass HB 377 which provides greater flexibility for retirees enrolled in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) to serve as poll workers. Under current law, a person employed as an election worker who is paid more than $600 during a calendar year can lose a portion of their benefits. HB 377 amends the current law to allow OPERS retirees to serve as poll workers without impacting their pensions. State employees are a reliable source for poll worker recruitment, and with this legislative victory, Ohio is one step closer to hitting the poll worker recruitment goal and, in turn, providing a successful, professionally administered election for Ohio voters.

 

Additionally, HB 377 provides $20 million in funds for financial assistance in running the August 2nd Primary Election. These funds will be quickly directed to the county boards of elections so they are not saddled with the additional costs associated with running a second primary election.

 

Wednesday, a ceremony was held at the Ohio Statehouse to unveil the official portrait of former Senate President Larry Obhof, a longtime tradition that honors Ohio’s legislative leaders. The Secretary, who served in the State Senate under President Obhof’s leadership, offered remarks about President Obhof’s contributions to Ohio’s growth as a state and his impeccable character as a dedicated public servant.

 

 

Should people who are not U.S. citizens be allowed to vote in local elections? How about statewide elections? Or elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate or even president of the United States?

 

The obvious answer should be “no,” but it comes up from time to time as local governments believe they should extend the franchise to resident aliens.

 

Ohio voters will answer that question in November. Last week, the Ohio General Assembly approved House Joint Resolution 4, putting the question on the general election ballot.

 

The matter came up in 2020, when the village of Yellow Springs approved a charter amendment allowing legal immigrants the right to vote in local elections for elected office and tax issues. The Yellow Springs Village Council insisted it was within its rights under its home-rule charter to allow noncitizens to vote in village elections. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, ordered the county board of elections to reject voter registration of noncitizens and to reject any ballots they cast.

 

 

COLUMBUS – Logan’s Bowen House was one of eight non-profits statewide to be recognized by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose in his monthly Ohio Business Spotlight for June. LaRose decided to highlight non-profit organizations this month.

 

A news release from LaRose’s office stated that non-profits in Ohio are critically important to the economic and social fabric of our state and work to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors within our communities. From educating the public on the history of their communities to providing veterans with food and a fresh start, the release said, the eight non-profit organizations recognized by LaRose this month do exceptional things day in and day out across the state.