Ohio’s voter registration numbers have dropped by 52,562 compared to 2018, the last midterm election cycle before the state legislature began implementing a series of new election laws. This decline occurs despite a growing eligible citizen voting-age population, which increased by at least 111,564 between 2018 and 2023, according to estimates from the Federal Register.
When accounting for both the decrease in registrations and the state’s population growth, there is a total disappearance of more than 164,000 potential voters. Current registration levels are 737,178 lower than the record high of 8.29 million reached in 2008. Data from the secretary of state’s voter registration dashboard indicates that while the state’s population has trended upward, the pool of registered voters has moved in the opposite direction. Amid these shifts, the U.S. Elections Project noted that Ohio’s national ranking for voter participation fell from 12th in 2008 to 24th by 2024.
Republican Lawmakers Mandate Proof of Citizenship for Registration
The reduction in voter registrations follows several years of legislative activity led by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Public records indicate that LaRose’s office frequently collaborated with State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, to shape election-law changes. These measures included:
- A requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote, which critics note is difficult for many residents to obtain. This mandate originated in December 2022, when Gavarone’s Senate Elections Committee rewrote a seemingly innocuous bill to include the provision.
- The creation of an election integrity unit within the Secretary of State’s office, which was part of a package of priority measures Gavarone introduced in February 2023.
- Legislation requiring monthly comparisons of voter registrations against federal records to identify suspected noncitizens for immediate purging, a process previously conducted annually.
- The elimination of a grace period for mail-in ballots, which previously allowed ballots postmarked by election day to be counted if they arrived within four days.
Legislators cited a 2025 executive order from Donald Trump regarding mail-in ballot deadlines as justification for these changes. Officials noted that if the new deadline had been in effect during the 2024 election, 20,896 ballots would have been disqualified. LaRose stated that legislation requiring universal voter-registration data across Ohio's 88 counties was drafted with assistance from the America First Policy Institute. In the months leading up to the 2024 election, LaRose joined that same institute to sue the administration, claiming the president had exceeded constitutional authority.
Discrepancies in Fraud Claims
Throughout the process of enacting these restrictions, LaRose and other state leaders have echoed claims regarding election integrity and voter fraud. Over the past five years, LaRose has alleged there have been more than 1,200 instances of voter fraud in Ohio.
Questions regarding the purpose of the declining participation rates remain unresolved. Since September 13, Secretary of State Frank LaRose has not responded to multiple requests for interviews, public records, or explanations regarding these trends.
Byline: TellingPointy Editorial Board — The TellingPointy Editorial Board maintains publication-wide standards for accuracy, sourcing, corrections, independence, and responsible newsroom practice.
