(The Center Square) – Ohio could soon prosecute voter fraud more often, and the state unit charged with investigating potential fraud could become permanent.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose applauded the Senate passage of Senate Bill 4 as a confidence boost for accurate elections and a message to offenders that prosecution could more readily come.
The bill moves to the House for consideration.
“Ohioans deserve absolute confidence in the honesty and accuracy of their elections,” LaRose said. “That’s why I created the state’s first-ever Election Integrity Unit in 2022 with a clear mission to bring unprecedented accountability to our voting process. This bill sends a clear message that if you cheat in our elections, we’ll find you and hold you accountable to the law.”
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Therese Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, would codify LaRose’s Election Integrity Unit into law, keeping it safe from elimination by other secretaries of state.
The unit would be required to investigate allegations of election fraud and voter suppression, allow public complaints and refer cases to prosecutors, law enforcement or federal agencies for reiew.
Also, if a county prosecutor declines to prosecute a case, the attorney general can prosecute.
“If we are not improving Ohio’s election law, then we are moving backwards and asking for trouble,” Gavarone said. “There is no doubt that this legislation will improve the election process in the state of Ohio. One case of voter fraud is one case too much and I’m confident that the Election Integrity Unit will bolster not only our election systems but our Republic.”
Sen. Kent Smith, D-Euclid, said the bill undermines local governments by creating a partisan investigative body.
“The biggest problem with the integrity of Ohio elections is that the Ohio Republican Party continues to look for ways to cheat and deceive voters,” Smith said. “The legislators asking for integrity today on the Ohio Senate floor are the same people who approve deceitful ballot language, voted to end majority rule, drew unfair district maps, and are opening the doors to unlimited dark money that will flood our elections. They have zero credibility on this issue and should not be trusted with power.”
