(The Center Square) – A plan to bring greater scrutiny to voter registration data and citizenship checks during Ohio elections is being introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives.
The bill, which has not yet been assigned to a committee, also focuses on the security of individual voting machines and would require state voting system inspection boards to include someone with cybersecurity expertise and qualifications. become.
“Election integrity is critical to the foundation of our freedoms as Americans,” said Rep. Bernie Willis (R-Springfield). “Voters must trust that their vote matters and that they will be represented by the candidate of their choice. Technology is advancing rapidly and the standards by which voting machines are certified may be outdated. It's time for change to protect everyone's vote.”
The review board will also develop cybersecurity standards, reviews and certifications for all existing and new voting machines in the state.
The Ohio Vote Counting Act would also target cybersecurity enhancements for all voting machines in the state and create a cybersecurity security management framework that would require voting system vendors to comply. It will also monitor the integrity of the software supply chain, develop security practices, and consider developing a voting system.
“As elected officials, it is our responsibility to ensure that Ohio's elections are transparent and accurate,” said Rep. Bob Peterson, R-Sabina. “The proposed bill would strengthen the security of our voting systems, which is needed as technology continues to advance. Doing our part to maintain free and fair elections is critical to the nation as a whole. is.”
The bill would also increase resources for county election boards to better manage voter lists and require the state auditor to compile voter registration databases and annual statewide data for three randomly selected counties. The plan is to require companies to conduct audits.
“In addition to worrying about cyber infrastructure, we have to focus on making sure that ineligible voters are unable to vote,” Willis said. “The only way to do this is to review good old-fashioned data. With over 6 million registered voters, the situation is tough, so we need to ensure that every vote is by an eligible voter. We want to give them the tools they need.”
