Ohio refers more than 1,000 alleged noncitizen voter cases to DOJ; 167 suspected of casting federal ballots since 2018
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has referred 1,084 alleged noncitizen voter cases to the U.S. Department of Justice, including 167 people suspected of casting federal ballots since 2018, part of statewide audits ahead of 2024.
- Scope: 1,084 individuals flagged as appearing to be noncitizens and sent to DOJ’s criminal division. (Sources: Fox News, Hoodline)
- Voting concerns: 167 suspected of casting ballots in federal elections since 2018; additional referrals include duplicate voting, votes after death and other irregularities. (Sources: Fox News, Hoodline)
- Evidence and process: LaRose’s office used multiple cross-checks — BMV, SAVE, SSA and jury lists — and forwarded case files to the DOJ for review. (Source: Fox News)
What officials say and how the audit was done
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose characterized the referrals as part of routine list maintenance and audits intended to protect ballot integrity. His office analyzed multiple state and federal data sets to identify registrations that appear to belong to noncitizens, then sent files to the U.S. Department of Justice criminal division for potential charges. (Source: Fox News)
Types of referrals and alleged activities
The referrals vary in nature. They include:
- 167 suspected of voting in federal elections since 2018.
- 135 referred for other unlawful voting activities.
- 99 suspected of voting in two states in the same federal election.
- 16 potentially voted twice in Ohio in the same federal election.
- 14 appear to have voted after their registered date of death.
- 4 alleged ballot-harvesting incidents.
- 2 registered at residences deemed unlawful for voter registration.
These tallies reflect the state audit’s flags; prosecutors will decide whether the evidence supports criminal charges. (Sources: Fox News, Hoodline)
Scope and scale: numbers put in context
LaRose’s office has conducted years of list maintenance: the team previously removed more than 155,000 registrations for inactivity over a four-year period. Supporters say such measures, combined with targeted audits, strengthen public confidence in election outcomes. Critics argue the 167 suspected noncitizen votes represent a very small proportion of statewide turnout and that record errors can produce false flags. (Source: Fox News)
Legal and policy debate
Election law experts note there is no uniform federal method for identifying noncitizens on voter rolls. The National Voter Registration Act establishes list-maintenance standards but does not mandate a standardized cross-check for citizenship, leaving states to rely on systems like SAVE and state DMV records. Policy analysts emphasize that rigorous procedures and legal review are necessary to avoid wrongly removing eligible voters. (Source: Bipartisan Policy Center)
In Ohio, a law now requires Bureau of Motor Vehicles clerks to confirm citizenship before registering voters at BMV locations — a policy that has prompted lawsuits claiming it could create barriers for some voters and may conflict with the NVRA’s accessibility requirements. (Source: Signal Cleveland)
Recent prosecutions and criticism
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently indicted six noncitizens for allegedly voting illegally, a development cited by both supporters and critics of the state’s approach. Supporters view prosecutions as evidence that enforcement can work; critics point to the small number of cases relative to total turnout and raise concerns about data accuracy and due process. LaRose has continued to refer cases to federal prosecutors ahead of the 2024 election. (Sources: Signal Cleveland, Fox News)
Points of contention
Supporters argue referrals and prosecutions are necessary to deter illegal voting and protect the value of lawful ballots. Critics counter that cross-checks can misidentify lawful voters and that added verification requirements risk creating unnecessary hurdles — particularly for name changers, rural residents, older voters and students. Lawsuits claim tougher verification could violate federal law by making registration less accessible. (Sources: Fox News, Signal Cleveland)
How cases move forward
Ohio’s role is to flag potential problems; the U.S. Department of Justice will review the referrals and decide whether to pursue federal charges. Not all referrals will become prosecutions — some may be administratively resolved or dismissed after review. As of the latest reporting, the DOJ had not replied to requests for comment. (Source: Fox News)
“The state’s duty is to ensure only eligible citizens vote,” LaRose said, noting that prosecutors ultimately decide whether evidence supports criminal charges.
Implications for Redding, California
Political consequences: Local officials and voters in Redding who prioritize election integrity may view Ohio’s move as a model for proactive cross-checks and referrals.
Legal and policy ripple effects: While California uses different registration systems, Ohio’s referrals could prompt debates in Shasta County about DMV verification practices and data-sharing.
Social and practical effects: The story could increase distrust among some voters, boost volunteer recruitment for poll monitoring, and prompt county officials to review list maintenance and poll-worker training. Voters in Redding are advised to check registrations and keep documentation current.
Sources and further reading
- Fox News: Ohio uncovers over 1,000 noncitizens appearing to be registered to vote, sends cases to DOJ for prosecution
- Hoodline: Ohio Secretary of State refers alleged voting irregularities to DOJ
- Signal Cleveland: Ohio sued over new citizenship verification law for people trying to register to vote at the BMV
- Bipartisan Policy Center: Modernizing Voter List Maintenance — an evidence-based framework
Reporting note
The referred case files were compiled by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office and forwarded to the U.S. Department of Justice. Numbers and details above reflect the state audit and public statements as reported by the cited sources. The DOJ had not provided a comment as of the latest reporting. (Source: Fox News)
