Ohio Voter Registration Deadline Approaching: Don’t Forget to Check Your Status
The deadline for voter registration in Ohio is fast approaching, and it’s essential for Ohioans to double-check their registration status to ensure they are eligible to cast their ballots. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Oct. 10, and it’s crucial to confirm your registration before then to avoid any issues on Election Day.
One of the worst scenarios for a voter is showing up to vote in November and discovering that they are not on the voter roll. According to Jonathan Entin, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), even if someone has previously registered to vote, it is recommended to double-check their status before the deadline.
Recently, a viewer reached out to News 5 expressing concern after receiving a letter from the nonpartisan group Center for Voter Information (CVI) and the Voter Participation Center (VPC), indicating that someone in their household was not registered to vote. The letter specifically mentioned that the topic of abortion rights would be on the ballot this fall. The viewer, who has been a registered Democratic voter for decades, and his wife, to whom the letter was addressed, were understandably alarmed. They provided documentation that verified their legitimate registration status.
CWRU elections law professor Atiba Ellis explains that data purges can sometimes lead to voter registration discrepancies. If a voter has been inactive for two federal elections, they can be removed from the voter rolls. After six years of inactivity and failing to respond to multiple mailings, a voter can be removed from the active voter list. Additionally, Ohio law allows for removal from the rolls if a voter moves out of the county or passes away.
Because of these purges, voting advocacy groups may send out notifications to individuals around election time. However, sometimes even well-intentioned organizations can make mistakes due to corrupted data.
Supporters of voter purges argue that they are necessary to maintain accurate and clean lists, preventing fraud. However, it’s essential to note that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Ohio.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose has criticized these outside groups, stating that they cause confusion by using inaccurate data and sending forms to individuals who are already registered. The groups, on the other hand, claim that they take precautions to ensure the accuracy of their mailings.
Critics of the elimination of voter names argue that it disenfranchises voters, and data shows that many people are mistakenly removed. In LaRose’s previous efforts to remove names from the voter rolls, around 16,000 voters were mislabeled, according to Democrats.
To avoid any potential issues, it is strongly recommended that Ohioans verify their registration status before the Oct. 10 deadline. If individuals find that they are not registered but believe they should be, they should contact their local board of elections.
The couple who reached out to News 5 was able to resolve their registration issue with assistance from CVI. The woman successfully re-registered to vote. News 5 attempted to gather information from both the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and the Secretary of State’s office to determine why this occurred, but no response was received at the time due to the federal holiday.
In conclusion, Ohioans must take the necessary steps to ensure their voting rights are protected. Checking your registration status before the deadline is crucial to avoid any inconveniences or potential disenfranchisement. Organizations like CVI and VPC may provide well-intentioned notifications, but it’s important to double-check your status independently. Remember, voter registration closes at the end of the day on Tuesday night.
