As absentee voting opens for the 2012 primary election, Lawrence County officials are still waiting for some resolution in an alleged attempt at voter fraud that occurred more than a year and a half ago.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has had the information for more than six months after Secretary of State John Husted provided the results of an investigation that he says clearly shows an attempt to violate election laws, crimes that would be considered felony charges.

Still, nothing has come from DeWine’s office other than a confirmation that the investigation is still ongoing.

We certainly appreciate the need to perform due diligence in looking at every angle and thoroughly examining the situation to determine if a crime has been committed. But the AG’s office also has a responsibility to bring this issue to a conclusion as soon as possible.

Allowing it to linger will only erode the community’s trust in Ohio’s current — and flawed — absentee system.

Or, even worse, it could be perceived that those who allegedly break the law get nothing more than a stern warning.

Voters deserve full disclosure on how these alleged crimes occurred and what is being done to ensure that nothing like it happens again.

Attorney General Mike DeWine needs to do this sooner rather than later.