Ensuring vote integrity in Ohio election

Farah Siddiqi

As Ohioans prepare to cast their ballots, election officials are emphasizing the integrity of the voting process and addressing concerns about potential misinformation.

David Becker, founder and executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, underscored how misinformation often surfaces postelection and is driven more by outcomes than any documented irregularities.

"We will hear, depending upon who wins and who loses, that noncitizens are voting, even though Republican-led states like Ohio have just documented only six cases over the course of the last decade. I looked it up," Becker noted. "It's literally more likely that you'd get hit by lightning in Ohio than find a noncitizen voting there."

State officials affirm strict security measures are in place, including voter ID checks and paper ballot backups. However, some critics suggest reviewing voter roll accuracy to bolster public confidence, given concerns about rare ballot errors.

Officials are also cautioning against narratives suggesting inevitable outcomes in close races, which Becker said could fuel postelection tensions. As Ohio heads into the final week, Becker advised mail-in voters to skip the Postal Service.

"Anyone who's holding on to a mail ballot that intends to cast their mail ballot should return it directly to election officials," Becker recommended. "Either through a drop box or directly at an election office."

With high demand for mail ballots, Ohio has expanded the number of secure drop boxes and improved procedures at election offices to support voters. As Election Day approaches, officials stress the importance of planning ahead to avoid last-minute issues.