NW Ohio Times

State Senators Theresa Gavarone and Andrew Brenner have introduced a new piece of legislation, Senate Bill 153, aimed at enhancing the security of Ohio's elections. The bill seeks to enforce proof of citizenship as a requirement for voter registration and updates.

"Ohio is the gold standard when it comes to running elections," stated Senator Gavarone. "Senate Bill 153 addresses areas of the election law we can improve, including an extra layer of protection to enforce our state constitution's citizenship requirement. This is a simple fix that strengthens trust and integrity in our institutions."

Senator Brenner added, "Having only legal voters cast a ballot each election should be common sense. This bill makes sure that Ohio has fair and reliable elections so that every time a vote is cast, no one can doubt that their vote will be secure."

The proposed legislation mandates verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration or when updating registration details. It also requires the Secretary of State to regularly review voter rolls for potential non-citizens and prohibits the use of drop boxes.

Following the introduction of this bill, former President Trump issued an Executive Order reflecting similar measures. Senator Gavarone expressed her approval by saying, “I was very excited to see President Trump’s Executive Order closely aligns with the work we have done in Ohio and the work we will continue with Senate Bill 153.”

The bill has been sent to the Senate General Government Committee for further examination.