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Public Integrity Frequently Asked Questions

The Public Integrity Division is a specialized department within the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. 
It includes three investigative teams focused on the office’s core responsibilities:

  • Election Administration

  • Campaign Finance

  • Business Services

The division’s mission is to protect public trust by ensuring fairness, transparency, and security across Ohio’s electoral and business systems.

The Public Integrity Division is responsible for investigating election-related violations and ensuring compliance with Ohio laws. Key areas of focus include:

  • Election Integrity – Investigates cases of voter fraud, intimidation, obstruction, or interference with voting and voter registration.

  • Cybersecurity & Physical Security – Develops and enforces best practices and security standards for county boards of elections, while tracking compliance.

  • Voter Registration & Post-Election Audits – Strengthens voter registration systems, monitors voter rolls, and oversees post-election audits to ensure accuracy and transparency.

  • Campaign Finance Compliance – Ensures campaign finance reports are filed accurately, on time, and in compliance with Ohio law.

  • Legislative Reform – Supports efforts to prohibit government impostor advertisements that could mislead voters.

Before the creation of this division, election security efforts were spread across multiple departments. Election administrators were often tasked with investigating voter fraud, diverting attention from their main duty—administering elections.

Now, the Public Integrity Division serves as a dedicated investigative body, allowing election administrators to focus solely on election operations.

This structure:

  • Improves transparency and accountability.

  • Strengthens public confidence in Ohio’s elections.

  • Reinforces the foundation of democracy by protecting both security and accessibility in the voting process.

Post-election audits are a crucial step in verifying election accuracy. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office has produced an informational video explaining the post-election audit process, detailing how votes are verified and validated after each election. (Video link: post-election audit process.) How to Report Election Fraud or Other Violations The Public Integrity Division accepts reports related to:

  • Election fraud

  • Voter suppression or intimidation

  • Campaign finance violations

  • Fraudulent business filings

  • Misleading or scam mailings

To file a report:

Your report helps protect Ohio’s democracy and maintain public confidence in state elections.