(Columbus) – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose hosted an annual statewide elections conference this week with an elevated focus on election integrity and security.
Building on the successful “Ready for November” initiative, Secretary LaRose welcomed nearly 500 election administrators from 85 counties for a two-day training seminar in Columbus. The event featured sessions ranging from logistics and early voting strategies to the latest in cybersecurity and threat mitigation.
“Administering elections is like leading a military operation: complex, high stakes, and requiring meticulous planning,” said Secretary LaRose. “We brought together county boards, emergency management, law enforcement, and federal partners to ensure every county is prepared for any scenario.”
The 2025 conference agenda was designed to reflect the real-world needs of election officials and included sessions on operational excellence, legal compliance, cybersecurity, and voter confidence-building.
Highlights included:
“Technology and Elections: From the DATA Act to AI”– A deep dive into how Ohio’s technology leadership is transforming voter registration, list maintenance, and ballot management.
“Navigating Democracy in a Disaster”– A session addressing emergency operations, continuity of government, and preparedness for unforeseen disruptions.
“The Gold Standard: Refined Cybersecurity in 2025”– Featuring cybersecurity experts from CrowdStrike, DHS, and the FBI to brief counties on current threats and tools.
“Election Security Directives: What We've Done So Far and What's Next”– An operational review of statewide mandates to strengthen physical and cyber infrastructure.
“Working With Your County Prosecutor”– A legal session aimed at improving coordination between boards of elections and law enforcement for election law enforcement and incident response.
Breakout workshops on ballot proofing, election administration plans, and board governance emphasized operational detail and hands-on planning.
During the conference, several election officials and county boards of elections were honored with awards for their outstanding work throughout the year. Those awardees include the following:
2024 Pat Wolfe Election Official of the Year:
Marilyn Jacobcik – Lorain County
Brandon Clay – Union County
2024 Precinct Election Official of the Year:
Scott Wetzel – Huron County
Sharon Oney – Noble County
John Lewis Youth Leadership Award:
London Coney – Montgomery County
2024 Best Use of Social Media Award:
Carroll County
2024 Verify Ohio Accurate Information Award:
Lucas County
2024 Board of the Year:
Wayne County
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