Ohio Secretary of State LaRose purges almost 27,000 voters from rolls right before reproductive rights vote

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose purged almost 27,000 people from voter rolls prior to next week’s election, which features ballot measures on reproductive rights and legalizing marijuana, new reporting shows.

Inactive voter registrations are usually removed by Ohio’s election officials the summer between primary and general elections. However, the Ohio Capital Journal reported last week that LaRose’s office carried out the purging of 27,000 voters this past September, less than two months before a ballot measure to enshrine the reproductive rights of Ohio citizens into law.

Democrats are now bringing up concerns that voters were wrongfully purged and some may lose their right to vote for simply moving from one county to another. State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) has sent communications to LaRose’s office demanding answers but found the response unsatisfactory.

“I have asked for specific information necessary to understand why nearly 27,000 Ohioans were purged so that we can have confidence that not one single eligible voter was disenfranchised because of incompetence, or even worse, because of a politically motivated secretary of state. And we have not received answers,” Sweeney said at a press conference Tuesday.

LaRose responded to Sweeney’s call to reverse the voter purge on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), where he cited the duty of his office as his reasoning.

I’ll NEVER apologize for protecting the integrity of Ohio’s elections. It’s the law. It’s my duty.

We removed registrations that have (1) moved or died, (2) haven’t voted at their registered address in FOUR YEARS and (3) haven’t responded to multiple rounds of warnings that… pic.twitter.com/wtFH1GBjwm

— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) October 31, 2023

Despite this, LaRose ordered three counties — Cuyahoga, Summit and Lucas, which house the large cities of Cleveland, Akron and Toledo, respectively — to not update their voter rolls until after the election.

LaRose is actively trying to abandon the secretary of state position — which he won reelection for last November — as he seeks the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D). In August, LaRose’s Issue 1 ballot measure failed to pass after he heavily pushed for its passage. It would have made it harder for the reproductive rights measure to pass this month.

Sweeney also pointed out that the voter purge occurred on Sept. 28, days after the election technically began when absentee ballots were issued on Sept. 22.

Voting has begun in the 2022 general election!

Absentee ballots requested by military and other registered overseas voters
are on the way!

Are you registered to vote? https://t.co/TI8p9deVoC pic.twitter.com/iTmv58k2mp

— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) September 23, 2022