Rep. Munira Presses Secretary LaRose's to Answer Questions on New Citizens Voter Purge

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus), Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)' representatives Vincent Wells and Sowdo Mohamud and Columbus City Councilwoman Lourdes Barroso de Padilla today hosted a press conference where they discussed Secretary of State Frank LaRose's recent cancellation of voter registrations for certain individuals his office has identified as non-citizens and his lack of transparency in the identification of voters and implementation of those cancellations.

"Voting rights are fundamental to a functioning democracy, serving as a cornerstone for ensuring that citizens have a voice in the governance of their country. The right to vote empowers citizens to influence decisions that affect their lives, from local policies to national legislation," said Rep. Munira. "Protecting this right is essential to preventing disenfranchisement and ensuring equality, as historically marginalized groups have often been denied this fundamental right. Without robust protections for voting access, the legitimacy of democratic systems erodes, leading to unequal representation and weakening public trust in government institutions."

Rep. Munira sent a letter in September to Secretary LaRose's office requesting information on what data and processes were used when examining whether an individual has sufficiently shown their citizenship status, and later, when deciding to take action. There has been no response to these inquiries and the deadline to register to vote is next week, October 7th.

"The Ohio secretary of state has been canceling some voter registrations based on citizenship status as indicated in BMV records. Unfortunately, these BMV records do not reflect if someone may have become a naturalized citizen since they last obtained a State ID or driver license. While it is important to note that non-citizens cannot vote, if you are a naturalized US Citizen, you may have had your voter registration canceled because of this new practice," said Vincent Wells, CRIS Legal Services/Immigration Attorney. "Fortunately, it is not too late to do something about this and vote. First, check your voter registration status on the secretary of state's website. If your voter registration does not appear, then re-register to vote in the upcoming election. The voter registration deadline is next Monday, October 7th. Registering to vote is easy and can be done quickly online."

"By casting my vote as a new American, I felt empowered, knowing my voice was heard. I cannot imagine being deprived of this fundamental right; no one should ever feel powerless," said Sowdo Mohamud, CRIS Resettlement Program/Case Aide.

CRIS is an independent non-profit organization that helps refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability, sustain self-sufficiency, and achieve successful integration into the Central Ohio community.