Boards directed to begin identifying, removing outdated data

COLUMBUS — Ohio Sec. of State Frank LaRose has issued Directive 2025-02, outlining the completion phase of Ohio’s 2021 General Voter Records Maintenance Program and ensuring accurate, up-to-date voter rolls across the state. The program, which follows both federal and state requirements, aims to remove abandoned registrations while protecting active voters’ rights.

The maintenance program identifies potentially outdated registrations through two main processes: The National Change of Address database and the Supplemental Process, which identifies voters who have shown no voting activity for a period of six years. Registrations that have not had any activity since before the 2020 presidential election may be subject to cancellation. Additionally, the directive also requires each county board to identify and remove past due cancelations.

The NCOA process compares boards of elections’ voter rolls with the United States Postal Service database to identify those who have moved, yet failed to update their registration.

“Maintaining accurate voter rolls is fundamental to election integrity,” said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. “This careful and deliberate process ensures that every eligible voter can cast their ballot while removing outdated registrations that could compromise election integrity. I’m proud of the work by Ohio’s bipartisan election officials to provide any inactive voter multiple opportunities to continue their registration, while also doing the necessary work to remove abandoned registrations from the rolls.”

Key points of the directive include:

• No voter registrations will be canceled before the May 2025 Primary Election

• All potentially affected voters will be sent a “Registration Readiness Notice” by March 5

• Voters can easily maintain their registration by voting, updating or confirming their information, or responding to mailed notices

• Final cancellations of abandoned registrations will occur on Sept. 23 

The process complies with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and Ohio’s voter list maintenance process, which has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court. Boards of elections will send notices to impacted registrants, providing ample opportunity to confirm or update their registration status. Additionally, LaRose will once again make the full list public when available. As part of this office’s commitment to transparency, Ohio was previously the first state in the nation to make its voter list maintenance information public prior to cancellation.

“Any Ohioan who believes they may be impacted has the opportunity through this process to take action,” said Secretary LaRose.

If an inactive registration has been removed, the registrant may re-register at any time, as long as they’re an eligible elector in Ohio. Voters can check their registration status or register to vote quickly and conveniently at VoteOhio.gov.