Ohio voter registration purge

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the removal of nearly 155,000 inactive voters from the state's voter rolls as part of an annual maintenance process ahead of the November elections. This purge included individuals who had not voted in four years, had moved without updating their information, or whose registrations did not match their identification details. Critics argue that this aggressive approach could disenfranchise eligible voters, especially in a major election year. Additionally, LaRose's office is removing 499 non-citizen registrations after a review confirmed their status, emphasizing the requirement that only U.S. citizens can vote in Ohio. LaRose defended the actions as necessary to maintain accurate voter rolls, stating, 'Diligent list maintenance helps prevent voter fraud and ensures the voice of the voters is heard on Election Day.' Ohioans affected by the removals are encouraged to re-register before the October 7 deadline, with options available for online registration and verification of their status.