(AmericanProsperity.com) – Taking decisive action to protect the integrity of the elections, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has indicted six noncitizens for illegally voting in the past.
This bold move sends a clear message: voter fraud will not be tolerated in the Buckeye State.
Yost recently announced the indictments. They target individuals who cast ballots in multiple elections, including the crucial 2016 and 2020 presidential contests.
Although these noncitizens live legally in the U.S., they do not have voting rights, so they now face fourth-degree felony charges for their actions.
“The right to vote is sacred,” Yost declared. “If you’re not a U.S. citizen, it’s illegal to vote – whether you thought you were allowed to or not – you will be held accountable.”
The indictments cover several Ohio counties, with three defendants coming from Franklin County, which includes Columbus.
Among those charged are 68-year-old Ramesh Patel of North Royalton, who allegedly voted in 2014, 2016 and 2018 before his death.
Additionally, 78-year-old Lorinda Miller of Hudson was accused of voting in four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019.
To maintain electoral integrity, Ohio regularly updates its voter registration list and checks citizenship status using a Department of Homeland Security database.
“Irregularities like this are rare, and this is a small number of cases. We should all be confident in the upcoming election, knowing that the laws are being enforced and will continue to be enforced,” Yost added.
The indictments follow Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s referral of nearly 600 voting-related cases to the Attorney General’s Office.
Yost now has jurisdiction over 138 cases related to alleged voting, while the rest involve voter registration.
Critics of these actions argue that such prosecutions are rare and unnecessary. However, even a small number of illegal votes can potentially sway close elections.
By taking action now, Ohio is setting an example for other states to follow, ensuring that every legal vote counts and that the democratic process remains free of fraud.
Doubling down on his efforts, Yost declared, “This law is being enforced, and I think this should enable everybody to take a deep breath and be more confident that our elections are, in fact, safe and secure and that noncitizens are not going to vote.”
“And if that would happen, the few that slip through the cracks will be held accountable,” Yost concluded.
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