Over 23,000 Franklin County voters at risk of being cut from rolls before November election

More than 23,000 Franklin County residents might have to re-register to vote before it's too late.

In a move he said was aimed at bolstering election integrity, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the publication of a list containing 158,857 inactive Ohio voter registrations that are eligible for removal from the Statewide Voter Registration Database.

Of those statewide inactive voters, 23,295 live in Franklin County.

Active voter registration is eligible for removal because records indicate previously active voters have not lived at or voted using their registered address for at least the past four years.

If voters are removed from the registration list, they will be ineligible to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election unless they re-register by Oct. 7.

Where do Franklin County voters at risk of being purged live?

• Columbus - 16,002
• Dublin - 977
• Westerville - 855
• Hilliard - 778
• Grove City - 771
• Reynoldsburg - 759
• Gahanna - 751
• Canal Winchester - 595
• New Albany - 442
• Galloway - 431
• Blacklick - 361
• Worthington - 241

For a full list by name directory of those at risk of becoming inactive refer to the PDF below.

Criteria for inactive registrations

According to Ohio’s county boards of elections, each of the registrations on the 2024 Registration Readiness List has been identified based on the following criteria:

1. National Change of Address Form: Voters who filled out a form indicating they have permanently moved and are therefore no longer eligible to vote at their former address.
2. Previously flagged for removal: Inactive registrations that were previously flagged for removal but have not yet been purged from the county’s voter registration system.

In compliance with state and federal laws, each of these registrations has been inactive for at least four years.

Deadline and restoration process

County boards of elections have been instructed to complete the removal process by July 22. However, any inactive registration scheduled for removal may be restored to active status prior to this deadline if the registrant takes one of the following actions:

• Confirm or update registration: This can be done online at VoteOhio.gov , by mail, or in person.
• Engage in voter activity: This includes updating or confirming their address with a board of elections or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, submitting an absentee ballot application, or signing a candidate or issue petition that is verified by a board of elections.

Future of the Registration Readiness list

If a registration is canceled due to inactivity and lack of confirmation over a four-year period, an Ohio voter may re-register at any time.

The Registration Readiness list will not be continuously updated to reflect renewed registrations. However, once a registration has been restored to active status by the county board of elections, the board will ensure it is not removed from the voter rolls.

Jewolf@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Over 23,000 Franklin County voters at risk of being cut from rolls before November election