Misguided Democratic Efforts Fail to Manipulate Licking County Voter Registrations

The Licking County Board of Elections recently has addressed worries about an organization wanting to nullify some voter registrations. The organization believed that these voters had double registered in two separate states. Brian Mead, the Director of the Board of Elections, clarified on Monday that the board’s responses to the Ohio Election Integrity Network’s requests have been misconstrued, attracting considerable criticism from the public. Mead, along with board members Dave Rhodes and Kaye Hartman, were quite disappointed at how their receptiveness to the Network’s input was misconstrued as an unwarranted collaboration.

Hartman retorted that the board’s decisions are invariably centered around the welfare of Licking County voters. He added that the Network’s requests were regarded in the same light as any public feedback the board receives. However, Mead couldn’t shake the feeling of being manipulated as a means to pressure the state secretary into taking action on the Network’s controversial activities within Ohio.

An unfortunate misinterpretation arose wherein some people assumed that the Network demanded the removal of over 2,000 local Licking County voters. In reality, those 2,149 voters who were purged were while complying with a state-required voter registration review. This regulation aims to expunge voters either failing to update their registration status post-relocation or haven’t voted over the past four years.

The affected voters were part of a larger pool of 154,995 inactive voters removed statewide in July. These individuals were handed the opportunity to refresh their registrations; however, only 3,862 capitalized upon this offer, including just 36 from Licking County. Nevertheless, they, along with unregistered voters, have till October 7 to register for the impending November 5 presidential election.

Importantly, the Network’s bid to eliminate voters from the Licking County registers wasn’t green-lighted without scrupulous examination. The Elections Board twice voted in 2021 to scrutinize the Network’s data, suggesting potential dual-state registrations. Mead recalled that the board extended letters to 250 people earlier in 2021, with 77 reacting by submitting forms to revoke their local voter registrations.

Of another group of 292, 59 responded similarly by submitting withdrawal requests. The Ohio network extract its data from the national Election Integrity Network, of which lawyer Cleta Mitchell is at the helm. She had previously been embroiled in the contentious post-2020 election period where she served the legal team attempting to reverse the George presidential election outcome, where Trump fell short to Democratic candidate Biden.

In spite of their anti-democratic demeanor and dubious data, the Network is still active across two-thirds of Ohio’s 88 counties according to Vicki McKinney, a Network board member and Licking County Task Force member. The League of Women Voters of Licking County expressed reservations about the Network’s operation after a June board meeting. They questioned both the nature of the relationship between the Network, local board, and the source of their data.

Three other organizations also expressed concerns – the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio, and All Voting is Local Ohio. In a press conference in Columbus, they collectively requested the Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose via a July 11 letter to protect all eligible voters’ rights and ignore those private entities trying to challenge their fellow voters.

On Monday, the Licking County Board of Elections sent a letter to the League of Women Voters addressing their concerns. It stated that the board’s interactions with the OEIN were not to be misconstrued as collaboration or a delegation of duties to a private entity. The initial request from OEIN was for the outright cancellation of 248 voter registrations. The proposal was flatly denied by the director and the deputy director as it would have overstepped their responsibilities and violated due process.

After a further discussion, the board suggested that the OEIN ask to send a letter to those listed voters. The idea was to confirm if they had moved out of state and, if so, requested them to cancel their voter registration in Licking County by signing and returning an enclosed form.

The board expressed contentment that it was able to identify any voters who were mistakenly included in the OEIN’s list before sending the letters. This feat was achieved by comparing their list with the board’s current registration details. For further queries regarding its data collection methods, the board directed the League towards OEIN for a clearer understanding.

Despite all the controversy, it’s clear that the Licking County Board of Elections conducted itself honorably. From refusing to act without due process to working within their jurisdiction, the board showed their dedication to serving the voters of Licking County, unlike other entities and Democratic affiliated organizations who show constant disregard for individuals’ rights.

This incident is only one illustration of the wider picture where private entities try to impose their will on electoral boards. Yet, the way Licking County Board of Elections addressed the situation, it gives hope to the belief that the voices of the people can be preserved.

In a time where some entities and Democratic party members are often blinded by their political ambitions, the Licking County Board of Elections affirms its commitment to fairness, even when faced with groundless claims and challenges. They stand as a beacon of hope for the conscious and discerning voter.