Ohio to Use Federal Data for Voter List Maintenance

Ohio has reached an agreement with a U.S. government agency to access a federal database. The state will use this information to maintain its voter registration lists. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the data-sharing deal. It involves the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agreement allows Ohio election officials to check its voter rolls against federal immigration records. The goal is to identify and remove people who are not U.S. citizens. Non-citizens are not permitted to vote in federal elections. States are required to keep accurate voter registration lists. Supporters argue this federal data is a reliable tool for that process. Critics of such efforts often express concern about potential errors that could remove eligible voters. Secretary LaRose stated the move will help ensure only eligible citizens are registered to vote in Ohio. The state plans to begin using the federal data immediately.