Support continues to build today from voting rights advocates, election administrators, law enforcement officials, and policymakers following the announcement of the first-ever Public Integrity Division in the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
The new division, announced on Wednesday, consolidates many of the office’s current and ongoing investigative functions, including campaign finance reporting, voting system certification, voter registration integrity, the investigation of election law violations, data retention & transparency, and cybersecurity protocols.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose shared today some of the feedback he’s received from state and local leaders reacting to the new initiative aimed at keeping Ohio’s elections honest, secure, and accurate:
“As the chief election officer for our state it makes sense that election integrity be an integral focus of their office. This work falls firmly within the Secretary of State's purview and my team stands ready to assist. Properly enforcing election laws is the best way to keep Ohio's elections honest and secure.”
Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General
“Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections are on the front lines of our elections. Every day we are working hard to strengthen the confidence of our constituents, from running accurate & accessible elections to rooting out any abuses of our electoral system. The new Public Integrity Division is going to go a long way towards improving investigative functions, including campaign finance reporting, voting system certification, voter registration integrity, the investigation of election law violations, and more. This is nothing but good news for Ohio’s boards of elections and all Ohio voters.”
Brian Sleeth, Director of the Warren County Board of Elections & President of the Ohio Association of Election Officials & Sherry Poland, Director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections & First Vice President of the Ohio Association of Election Officials
“Election fraud is real, and Ohio voters deserve to have it properly investigated. Secretary LaRose should be commended for the development of this new division that will boost Ohio’s capability to root out fraud and give Ohioans greater confidence in the integrity of their elections.”
Joe Deters, Hamilton County Prosecutor
“We have folks in Ohio who are extremely suspicious of election results, and it’s hard to come up with a way to encourage them to trust the results of an election. This public integrity unit is (LaRose’s) attempt at thinking about how best to bring voters back to the idea that their votes will be properly counted.”
Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio
“Just as threats can evolve so must our election safeguards. We welcome this announcement, because it reaffirms our state’s commitment to election integrity.”
Jen Miller, League of Women Voters
“Plain and simple, Secretary LaRose’s efforts to strengthen the capabilities of his office to investigate voter fraud & suppression, as well as abuses of the campaign finance system, is going to make the job of county prosecutors easier. When election law is broken, we know the Public Integrity Division will have both the tools and expertise necessary to secure a conviction. Secretary LaRose should be commended for making government work the right way – for the people.”
Ron O’Brien, Former Franklin County Prosecutor
“Ohio is a national leader in protecting the integrity of elections, but there is always room for improvement in bolstering voter confidence in the honesty and fairness of our elections. The Public Integrity Division will go a long way towards accomplishing that goal."
Bill Seitz, Ohio State Representative – Green Township
“For years, the Secretary of State’s office has relied on election administrators to conduct their investigations. While their work has been admirable and made Ohioans proud, Secretary LaRose is doing the right thing by professionalizing those positions. Utilizing experienced investigators who know the needs and demands in county prosecutor offices like mine will make it easier to fight back against those attempting to abuse our electoral system.”
Forrest Thompson, Medina County Prosecutor
“Secretary LaRose has repeatedly demonstrated that fair and accurate elections are his top priority. The creation of a Public Integrity Division is a perfect example of his efforts to ensure integrity within our voting system. Boosting investigation capabilities is an effective way to assist local election officials, prevent fraud and keep our elections honest.”
Nicholas Adkins, Madison County Prosecutor
"Ohio is nationally recognized for having a strong election system, where it's easy to vote and hard to cheat. The new Public Integrity Division unit builds on that tradition. Not only will the Public Integrity Division help ensure our elections are secure and accurate, but it will strength public confidence in our democracy."
Jay Edwards, Ohio State Representative - Nelsonville
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