As an Ohio voter and lifelong advocate for voting rights, I am deeply frustrated and frankly disgusted by Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s decision to hand over 8 million Ohio voters’ data to the U.S. Department of Justice.
This move sends a chilling message to every citizen who values their privacy and their voice at the ballot box.
It is especially galling given LaRose’s repeated assurances that Ohio runs some of the most secure elections in the nation.
Why, then, does he now participate in federal maneuvers that suggest the opposite?
The federal administration’s lack of transparency around this data request only deepens my concern.
Instead of open, honest communication with the public, we get evasiveness and shifting justifications.
This approach embodies a troubling presumption of guilt toward Ohio voters, casting suspicion where none belongs.
Numerous studies — including analyses from bipartisan commissions and respected academic institutions, and even conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation — have consistently debunked the myth of widespread voter fraud.
Our elections are not under siege by phantom threats; they are under attack by policies and decisions that erode trust and discourage participation.
LaRose’s capitulation to these demands runs counter to his own public statements about Ohio’s election integrity.
It is hard not to question his motives: Is this about protecting voters, or is it about advancing a national agenda that puts partisanship over the people?
The recent push for legislation like the SAVE Act, which would erect new barriers for eligible voters, fits into this same pattern.
Rather than inspiring confidence, these actions stoke fear and confusion, undermining the legitimacy of our democracy.
Make no mistake: turning over sensitive voter data threatens the privacy of every Ohioan.
It sets a dangerous precedent and opens the door to further attempts to suppress voter turnout — efforts that always seem to target communities whose voices are already marginalized.
I reject the notion that our rights can be bargained away in the name of “security” when the real security at risk is that of our democracy itself.
I will not stand by as elected officials, entrusted to serve Ohioans, instead play politics with our fundamental freedoms.
I pledge to continue fighting for transparent, accessible, and fair elections in Ohio.
Our votes matter, and so does our trust.
Secretary LaRose — and the federal administration — owe us both.
This story is republished from the Ohio Capital Journal. View the original article.
