Frank LaRose, the honorable Secretary of State of Ohio, has approached the state legislature with a critical proposition focused on fortifying the sanctity of our electoral process. His proposition stems from a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, one that he believes could significantly enhance the credibility of voting in Ohio. The crux of his proposal involves mandating that individuals furnish evidence of citizenship while registering themselves as voters — a step that he believes is not only logical but also bound by law.
Already, both state and federal rules have declared it unlawful for non-Americans to participate in federal or state-level electoral proceedings. However, Secretary LaRose opines that these rules require more teeth for efficient enforcement. He has penned his thoughts and appeals to the influential Republican leaders of both legislative houses within the state.
In his emotional letter to these legislative stalwarts, he urged for a lawmaking initiative that would mandate proof of citizenship upon voter registration. ‘Our noble American elections should be reserved exclusively for our proud American citizens. It’s that simple, and it’s within our legal framework. Despite less than substantial support from the federal authorities, Ohio has proudly stood at the forefront in pruning noncitizens from the voter rolls and alerting prosecutors about law violators,’ Secretary LaRose vehemently stated.
In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling, he notes that Ohio now finds itself at a crossroads, with a unique opportunity to enforce advanced citizenship verification ahead of registration approval. He believes that such a measure could prove instrumental in refining the future of electoral proceedings in Ohio. To this end, he has asked the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation focused on preserving Ohio’s election integrity.
Under existing laws, the Secretary of State of Ohio retains the sole power to issue official voter registration forms, but is withheld from demanding proof of citizenship from applicants. This discrepancy has piqued Secretary LaRose’s interest, who views it as a loophole in voting laws that can potentially be exploited.
Earlier this month, a groundbreaking verdict from the U.S. Supreme Court echoed Secretary LaRose’s sentiments. The judgment dictated that individuals intending to register as voters through a state voter registration form must indeed present proof of their citizenship. The request for this emergency order leading to the decision came from Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen.
In this nationwide drive for voting law reformation, Arizona was not alone. The state found companionship in 23 other states, all of which had lodged a collective brief supporting the law that prescribes proof of citizenship as a precondition for voting. Interestingly, the judgment maintained that Arizonans without identification could still register as voters, however their ability to participate would understandably be limited to ‘federal only’ voting, a mandate inclusive of citizenship affirmation.
This legal metamorphosis does not impact individuals who are already registered as voters. However, it does spell a significant impact on future voter registrations. If an individual files a state voter registration application sans proper identification, they will likely face rejection.
This legal tussle has its birthplace in the opposition of a law enacted in 2022. This potentially game-changing regulation aimed to curtail individuals lacking proof of citizenship from registering to vote in local elections. Secretary LaRose’s recent appeal has given a fresh impetus to the discussion surrounding this law, highlighting the need to balance access to voting rights and preservation of election integrity.