Ingram Condemns LaRose's Election Legislation Proposals

Today, Senate Democratic Assistant Minority Whip Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) responded to Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s recent election legislation proposals with the following statement:

"Secretary LaRose’s proposed restrictions on ballot drop boxes and absentee voting are a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise Ohio voters," said Ingram. “Ohioans deserve a fair and accessible electoral system where every eligible voter can participate without facing unnecessary obstacles.”

Following a federal court ruling that Ohio law violated the rights of voters with disabilities, LaRose has suggested banning drop boxes, requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, and imposing provisional ballots for discrepancies between voter registrations and BMV/SSA records.

"The aggressive actions by Secretary LaRose and Attorney General Dave Yost to undermine Ohioans' right to vote are deeply troubling,” said Ingram. “We have worked for generations to ensure our voting processes are fair and accessible. Proposing changes that suppress voter participation, particularly among working individuals, college students, and those dependent on others to deliver ballots, is disgraceful.”

Nearly four million Ohioans voted in the last election, many using absentee ballots. The proposed changes threaten to disenfranchise voters and disproportionately impact marginalized groups. Federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting, and Ohio's restrictive voter ID laws further complicate the process.