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SB 451

Revise Election Law; enact the Interstate Voter Assistance Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Theresa Gavarone

Ohio SB 451 modernizes and centralizes election administration in Ohio, expanding the Secretary of State’s authority, creating an Election Integrity Unit, and aligning registration

Referred to committee
#campaignfinance #electionadministration #elections #voting
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Bill Summary · SB 451

Overview

SB 451 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly) seeks to revise Election Law related to voter registration, voter rolls maintenance, enforcement, and to designate portions of the act as the Interstate Voter Assistance Act. It creates and reorganizes election-oversight structures, expands the secretary of state’s authority, and establishes new training and enforcement frameworks.

Main purpose and intent

  • Modernize and centralize administration of elections in Ohio.
  • Strengthen election integrity oversight through a dedicated Election Integrity Unit.
  • Align Ohio’s registration and purge processes with federal standards (e.g., Help America Vote Act considerations) and improve interstate coordination on voter information.

Key provisions and changes

  • Creation and powers of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (Section 109.71) with a defined makeup of law-enforcement and education representatives. Establishes training and certification requirements for peace officers, including post-employment conditions, criminal history checks, and ongoing refresher requirements.
  • Revised definitions and scope for peace officers, crisis intervention, and related terms to support enforcement and training standards.
  • Establishment of the Election Integrity Unit within the Secretary of State (Section 3501.055):
    • Powers to investigate alleged violations of Title XXXV.
    • Ability to accept public allegations and issue annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly.
    • Authority to administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and hold hearings.
    • Timelines for prosecutorial action on referrals, with possible escalation to the Attorney General if local prosecutors do not act.
  • Expanded duties for the Secretary of State and boards of elections on voter registration and maintenance:
    • 3503.02, 3503.14, 3503.21, 3503.33, 3503.34, 3503.35: Rules and procedures for determining residence, removing ineligible or non-citizen voters, and processing transfers between counties and states.
    • Adoption of processes to remove and mark ineligible voters from the statewide voter registration database and precinct lists, with uniform, nondiscriminatory standards and NCOA integration.
    • Procedures to coordinate with national change-of-address systems and to issue confirmation notices to voters.
  • Registration form and process changes (3501.05; 3503.14):
    • Prescribe forms with required identification fields and statements; include language about election falsification penalties.
    • Allow for electronic signatures and accommodate forms subdivided for machine readability.
    • Clarify who may not sign or prepare forms on behalf of applicants.
  • Interstate and domestic coordination (Interstate Voter Assistance Act framing):
    • Provisions enabling cross-state cooperation on voter registration and maintenance, with privacy and security safeguards.
  • Miscellaneous operational provisions:
    • Secretary of State reporting requirements after canvass; web postings of directives and election-related information; accessibility provisions for voters with disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator role).
    • Provisions for handling merges, cancellations, and transfers of registrations across counties and states, with timelines tied to federal election cycles.

Who/what is affected

  • Ohio Secretary of State and boards of elections (registration, purge, and ballot administration).
  • Election-related employees and contractors involved in registration, records management, and voter services.
  • Law enforcement and peace officers involved in training and potential enforcement related to election laws.
  • Voters in Ohio, particularly those undergoing registration, residence changes, or transfers between counties or states.
  • Institutions that assist with voter registration (schools, libraries, DMV, designated agencies) under updated rules.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Establishment and operation timelines for the Election Integrity Unit and peace-officer training standards.
  • Mandatory reporting by the Election Integrity Unit by January 15 each year.
  • Procedures to complete certain purge/removal actions within specified windows (e.g., remove or verify change-of-address actions prior to elections).
  • Provisions for prosecution timelines after referrals, and potential escalation if local prosecutors do not act within defined periods.
  • Annual web postings and archival maintenance of election data and directives.

Note: The text provided is the bill as introduced; final statutes may adjust sections, definitions, or timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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