Press Releases

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.

COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose today certified the official results of the 2020 Presidential Primary Election. The Secretary’s signature today marks the completion of the official canvass.

COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose today announced 11,447 new businesses filed in April, a slight decrease from the month before but still above the monthly filing average in 2019. 99.5% of these filings were done online.

COLUMBUS – Today Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the selected businesses for this month’s Ohio Business Spotlight. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant challenge to businesses across the country, but many Ohio entrepreneurs are finding ways to adapt. These featured businesses are shining examples of Ohioans’ strength.

COLUMBUS – Today Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the client service center in his office at 22 N. 4th St. in Columbus is again open for business. The center had been closed to in-person transactions since March 22 when Ohio Director of Health Dr. Amy Acton issued a stay at home order. Since then, entrepreneurs and business owners have continued to utilize both online and drop-off services to transact filings with the Secretary of State’s Office. With the beginning of Governor Mike DeWine’s Stay Safe Order today, the service center now has significantly upgraded physical protection as well as protocols in place to ensure the safety of both staff and the Ohioans they serve.

MEMORANDUM TO: Members of the Media

COLUMBUS –April 27th is the final day to mail in ballots in Ohio’s extended primary election. A ballot mailed in must be postmarked today in order to be counted under Ohio law. Ohioans can also drop off completed ballots in the secure drop box at their board of elections until 7:30pm on Tuesday, April 28th.

COLUMBUS - Today Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that changes being made by the United States Postal Service will lead to faster delivery of vote-by-mail-ballots to Ohioans’ homes. The changes come after Secretary LaRose sent a letter to Ohio’s congressional delegation regarding delays in mail delivery that were impacting how quickly Ohioans were receiving their vote-by-mail ballots. The letter can be viewed by clicking this link.(opens in a new window)

COLUMBUS –As Ohio responded to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton ordered in-person polling locations closed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. As a result, the Ohio General Assembly extended the 2020 Ohio primary election until Tuesday, April 28, 2020 and converted it to a vote-by-mail election. Today, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that 1,667,883 Ohioans have requested a vote-by-mail ballot for the Ohio primary election and 975,158 voters have already cast their ballot.

COLUMBUS - Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose today announced 13,399 new businesses filed in March, an increase of more than 2,000 compared to February, and similar to numbers from March of 2019.