Laurie Groves, board member for the Ohio Election Integrity Network, said on April 7 that senators should support federal legislation requiring proof of citizenship for participation in national elections.
The issue has gained attention following recent findings of noncitizen voter registrations in Ohio. Groves said, “America needs you to stay strong and pass the SAVE America Act. Thank you for maintaining your persistent and consistent posture on this bill. Stand strong for America and pass the SAVE America Act. America’s midterms depend on your actions to lead us to victory,” according to her statement.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reported that an audit of the statewide voter registration database identified over 1,000 noncitizens who appeared to have registered to vote unlawfully. Of those cases, 167 individuals were found to have cast ballots in federal elections since 2018 and all were referred to the Department of Justice for review. The investigation relied on newly available state and federal records to flag the potential violations. Additional referrals for prosecution covered other unlawful voting activity uncovered during the review, according to Fox News.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act, requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Acceptable documents include a passport or a REAL ID compliant identification that indicates citizenship status. The legislation amends the National Voter Registration Act to prohibit states from processing applications without the required proof. It establishes an alternative process for applicants to submit other evidence demonstrating citizenship, according to Congress.gov.
LaRose announced additional evidence of illegal noncitizen voter registrations and voting activity uncovered during routine checks of the voter rolls. Investigators referred 78 new cases to the Ohio Attorney General for potential prosecution including nine individuals who cast potentially fraudulent votes. The findings came from cross-referencing state and federal records with the statewide database as part of efforts by the Election Integrity Unit, according to a press release from LaRose’s office.
Groves serves as board member of the Ohio Election Integrity Network which advocates for secure election practices. She has provided proponent testimony before Ohio House committees on election-related measures and participated in coalition letters supporting legislation such as SB 293, according to AMAC.
