COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has referred 75 people for potential criminal prosecution on accusations they voted illegally during the 2020 general election.
According to LaRose's office, the individuals allegedly voted first in one state before unlawfully casting second ballots in Ohio. This would wipe out their votes in the Buckeye State but not the areas where they voted first, and officials say the review came through partnerships with places like Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida; Texas; Washington; Washington, D.C.; and Wisconsin. Additional referrals from other states are expected.
RELATED: More political coverage from WKYC
This latest news comes on the heels of last week's announcement of the creation of a "Public Integrity Unit" to investigate claims of voter fraud in Ohio. The Republican LaRose called the move a necessary step to combat "a crisis of confidence in the electoral process," while Democrats lambasted it as a waste of taxpayer dollars that will only further fuel former President Donald Trump's false assertions that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him.
For his part, the Trump-endorsed LaRose — who is running for re-election this November — has attempted to toe the line between placating the former president's lies while also defending Ohio's election systems (Trump won the state by eight points two years ago). In today's statement, his office noted 630 cases of alleged voter fraud in the state during his tenure since 2018, while also noting election crimes are "exceedingly rare."
"This is a perfect example of why we created the Public Integrity Division," LaRose said Monday. "The only way to strengthen the confidence of the voters is by working every day to earn their trust. Ohioans should know if you violate election law, we'll catch you. Every vote matters."
Back in August, LaRose referred 11 non-U.S. citizens accused of voting illegally, although state Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Keyes claimed that investigation led to only one criminal prosecution. The secretary of state has also thrown his support behind a proposed constitutional amendment that would formally bar non-citizens from voting in Ohio, and the measure will be in the ballot next month.
The new Public Integrity Unit will be up and running "soon," according to LaRose's office. Those with questions can learn more at ohiosos.gov/publicintegrity.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.