COLUMBUS, Ohio — Advocates are calling on Ohio officials to halt a scheduled purge of voter rolls set to take place before the November election. The move, set to affect approximately 160,000 Ohioans on July 22, 2024, has sparked a heated debate over the balance between maintaining accurate voter rolls and ensuring the right to vote.
The purge, according to Ohio election officials, is intended to remove inactive and infrequent voters from the rolls. Voter rights advocates, however, argue that the process is too swift, providing only a two-week window for individuals to rectify their voter status and potentially stripping away a fundamental civil right.
The purge impacts Ohioans across all income levels. Under current state guidelines, if a voter changes their mailing address, fails to vote for four years, and does not respond to notices from their Board of Elections (BOE), their registration can be canceled. Additionally, those who do not vote for six years can also be removed from the voter rolls.
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Ohio’s process in a narrow 5-4 decision, ruling that the state’s method of purging infrequent voters from the registration rolls, which includes sending confirmation notices, is lawful.
Here are the approximate numbers of inactive registered voters in several Ohio counties, according to data from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website:
- Ross: 1,180
- Pike: 158
- Pickaway: 201
- Fayette: 300
- Scioto: 735
- Vinton: 120
- Jackson: 253
- Highland: 694
State and federal laws mandate that election officials maintain accurate voter rolls. This involves removing registrations deemed legally inactive after a four-year waiting period. During this period, an inactive registration can be reactivated if the individual engages in voter-initiated activities such as voting, updating their registration, requesting an absentee ballot, or signing a petition.
Ohio’s county boards of elections report that each of the registrations slated for removal has been inactive for at least four years following an initial confirmation notice. Since then, the affected individuals have failed to respond or engage in any voter-initiated activities.
The registrations identified for removal include the following:
- Voters who have submitted a National Change of Address (NCOA) form indicating they have permanently moved.
- Inactive registrations are flagged for removal after the required four-year period.
County boards of elections have been directed to complete the removal process by July 22, 2024. Inactive registrations can be restored if the registrant takes action before this date, such as updating their address with the BOE or the BMV, submitting an absentee ballot application, or signing a verified petition. Registrants can also confirm or update their voter registration online, by mail, or in person.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s office has created a searchable database to help any eligible Ohioan who inadvertently appears on the purge list remain registered to vote. However, once a registration is canceled due to inactivity and lack of confirmation over four years, the individual must re-register to vote.
For questions about the voter registration process or to confirm their status, individuals are encouraged to contact their county board of elections, listed on OhioSoS.gov/boards.
As the debate continues, voter rights advocates emphasize the importance of ensuring all eligible Ohioans retain their right to vote, while state officials stress the need to maintain the integrity and accuracy of voter rolls. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the upcoming November election.