3 Things You Need to Know:
Election Security You Can Trust:The bipartisan Board of Voting Systems Examiners (BVSE) conducted certification reviews of several election systems this week. The Board of Voting Systems Examiners examines and approves voting equipment for use in Ohio elections, ensuring Ohio maintains the highest levels of election security. Learn more about the BVSE here.
Election Officials Prepare For a Busy Year: The Ohio Association of Election Officials (OAEO) held its annual winter conference this week. The conference brings together bipartisan election professionals from Ohio's 88 counties and members of the Ohio Secretary of State's office to engage and share best practices to keep Ohio's elections secure, accurate, and accessible.
LaRose Issues Directive on Senate Bill 293: Secretary LaRose issued a new directive to Ohio's county board of elections, providing guidance on the implementation of Senate Bill 293. Among other provisions, Senate Bill 293 aligns Ohio with the majority of other states by requiring absentee ballots to be received at the board of elections by the time polls close on Election Day. Directive 2026-02 can be found here.
*The vast majority of states, including Ohio, colored in blue, require ballots to arrive by election day.
Ohio Election Integrity Commission Meets
The first meeting of the Ohio Election Integrity Commission was held on January 9. Click the image below to watch the meeting.
Verify Ohio Weekly Update:
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Question If I have knowledge of an election law or campaign finance violation, how do I report it? Let's Verify! You can file a complaint online! The new Ohio Election Integrity Commission accepts complaints through our Election Integirty Unit directly from individuals with firsthand information. Filing a complaint helps protect fair and lawful elections for all Ohioans. File a complaint here. We created Verify Ohio as a trusted source for election information and business education. Follow us on your favorite social media channels @VerifyOhio. |
Updates From Around Ohio
The Ohio Association of Election Officials held its 2026 Winter Conference this week. Secretary LaRose served as a speaker and discussed the importance of election security, the changes to absentee voting brought by Senate Bill 293, and thanked officials for their tireless efforts to ensure accurate and secure elections in Ohio.
Secretary LaRose administered the oath of office to new officers at the OAEO annual conference this week.
Secretary LaRose spoke at the Ohio Fair Managers Association Annual Conference, highlighting the important role Ohio’s fairs play in celebrating agriculture and the farmers who help put food on the table for Ohio families every day.
Deputy Director of Regional Services Kenny Henning (pictured center-right) and Personal Aide to Secretary LaRose Nicolas Johnston (pictured center-left) presented challenge coins to deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Color Guard. The group presented the colors at the OAEO Winter Conference.
In Case You Missed It:
Ohio Election Integrity Commission Hopes to Stop Voter Fraud
Youngstown Elementary School Could House Mahoning County Board of Elections
As the Youngstown City School District board of education works to figure out how Kirkmere Elementary School will be used in the future, one option has emerged that's caught the interest of Mahoning County.
Secretary LaRose Appoints O’Donnell, Crites to Chair Ohio Election Integrity Commission
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced recently that retired state Supreme Court Justice Terrence O’Donnell will serve as interim chair of the newly formed Ohio Election Integrity Commission, which formally replaced the Ohio Elections Commission on January 1, 2026.