Press Releases

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose ordered the Greene County Board of Elections to reject non-citizen voter registrations and put measures in place to ensure only citizens are allowed to cast their ballot in November.

COLUMBUS– Today Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the businesses selected for this month’s Ohio Business Spotlight. This summer, Ohioans want to experience the great outdoors while also helping curb the spread of COVID19. We are highlighting outdoor recreation businesses in various regions of the state that provide safe outdoor activities for families by embracing CDC guidelines such as wearing masks and social distancing. The featured businesses provide acres of land to enjoy activities with smaller spread out groups, outdoor sports, camping, kayaking, and even working farms.

COLUMBUS – In a directive sent to the Greene County Board of Elections today, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose ordered the board to reject non-citizen voter registrations and put measures in place ensuring only citizens are allowed to vote this November. In the 2020 primary election, the Village of Yellow Springs approved a charter amendment that explicitly allowed non-citizens to register and vote in local elections.

COLUMBUS- Today, Representatives Gayle Manning and Jessica Miranda introduced HB 737 that will ultimately require corporations to report campaign donations to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

July 27, 2020

COLUMBUS –On July 24th, CBS News aired a 7-minute segment about one of the biggest challenges facing Ohio’s absentee ballot system and absentee voting across the country – the length of time it takes for voters to get their mail. The piece, seen by clicking here, highlights mail system delays and the potential impact on voters attempting to vote by absentee ballot this fall(opens in a new window).

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Supreme Court issued an order(opens in a new window) allowing Ohio attorneys to receive required Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for serving as precinct election officials on Election Day this fall. The decision supports the Secretary’s Ready for November initiative by recruiting new poll workers to ensure Ohio voters have a safe, secure and fair election.

COLUMBUS – Today Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose referred nineteen apparent or alleged violations of Ohio campaign finance laws to the Ohio Elections Commission. All nineteen are connected to the 82-page Criminal Complaint(opens in a new window) that was publicly released today against State Representative Larry Householder, Jeff Longstreth, Neil Clark, Matthew Borges and Juan Cespedes.

COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose today announced 16,047 new businesses filed in June -- the most new filings in one month ever. The number of new businesses created in June is a substantial 61% increase over June 2019 and a 24% increase over last month.

COLUMBUS – Today, the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission received preliminary approval for the construction of a memorial monument at the Ohio Statehouse honoring the women’s suffrage movement in Ohio. One hundred years after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, the commission believes there is no better time to highlight such a pivotal point in our state and nation’s history by demonstrating that the Statehouse is truly the house of all Ohioans.

COLUMBUS – Today, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced a new statewide voter registration campaign called Raise a Glass to Democracy. More than thirty breweries statewide are partnering with the Secretary of State to boost civic engagement.

COLUMBUS - Today, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued Directive 2020-12 to the state’s 88 county boards of elections. The 2020 Election Security & Accessibility Directive details how counties must utilize federal dollars to strengthen their election security and accessibility for disabled voters in preparation for the upcoming general election. Ohio’s share of federal HAVA funds designated for the 2020 election is $13,657,222. This builds on last week’s directive where the Secretary allocated $11.2 million in federal funding directly to the county boards for pandemic preparedness. These two actions combined result in $24.8 million being pushed out directly to the front lines, Ohio’s bipartisan boards of elections, so that they can be ready for November.

COLUMBUS –Today, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued Directive 2020-11 to the state’s 88 county boards of elections. The Ready for November Directive details how counties must utilize federal dollars to improve their election infrastructure, hire temporary personnel, enhance their supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), and recruit poll workers. Ohio’s share of federal CARES Act funds designated for the 2020 election is $12,861,311. Notably, 87% of Ohio’s federal dollars will be sent directly to the county boards of elections in support of their efforts to run a safe, secure, and accurate election.

COLUMBUS – Today, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) officially takes effect.

COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose today announced 12,892 new businesses filed in May, the most filings in May of any year on record.

COLUMBUS– Today Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the businesses selected for this month’s Ohio Business Spotlight. While we work to reopen our business safely, Ohioans continue to demonstrate creativity, resiliency and grit in every sector and region. This month we are highlighting businesses from every corner of the state that have adapted to provide a safe environment for customers while providing essential services in innovative ways to help others, keep workers employed, and make us proud to be Ohioans.

COLUMBUS- Today the Ohio Controlling Board authorized the use of federal dollars to allow the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office to send absentee ballot request forms to all 7.8 million registered voters in Ohio.

COLUMBUS – While increased rates of domestic violence continue to be a growing concern, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is committed to protecting those seeking safety. Safe at Home(opens in a new window), Ohio's address confidentiality program, hides any address on government documents and websites for people who have experienced domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, rape, or sexual battery. Interested survivors should visit OhioSoS.gov/SafeAtHome(opens in a new window) or call (614) 995-2255 to find an Application Assistant.

A Positive Step Towards Making Ohio Ready for November

Today Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the formation of the Ready for November Task Force. The mission of the task force is to provide updates from the field on the challenges and needs of our county boards of elections to administer a safe, secure, and accessible election in the fall, and how the state can help support their efforts. The task force will meet several times over the coming months and will; 1) provide updates on how counties are preparing for November, 2) hear from a variety of experts, 3) learn from county elections administrators and what their needs and requirements are, 4) consider and disseminate best practices, and 5) receive information about the evolving health situation.