In Springfield, Ohio, a city founded in 1801, recent social media posts have sparked controversy regarding the voting rights of Haitian migrants. Officials have stepped forward to clarify the situation and debunk misleading claims.
Dan Lusheck, deputy communications director for the Ohio Secretary of State's office, stated, "Legal non-citizens are able to get a license in Ohio, but that license is not able to be used for voting purposes." This clarification comes in response to posts suggesting that Haitian migrants could use their driver's licenses to vote illegally.
The majority of the 15,000 Haitians in Springfield are in the United States legally under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program established by Congress in 1990. TPS provides deportation relief and work permits but does not confer voting rights.
It's crucial to understand that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal and state elections, as per the U.S. General Services Administration. This rule extends to local elections in Ohio, as stipulated by the state's constitution. Amber Lopez, deputy director of the Clark County Board of Elections, emphasized, "It is against the law for non-citizens to vote in any election in the state of Ohio."
Ohio, which became the 17th state of the United States in 1803, has implemented several safeguards to prevent voter fraud:
- Driver's licenses for non-citizens contain a specific notation as of 2023.
- Election workers are trained to examine these notations.
- The Ohio Secretary of State conducts regular audits of the voter registration database.
- A recent directive requires the removal of non-citizen voter registrations.
Lindsey Bohrer of the Ohio Department of Public Safety explained that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) verifies the legal presence of non-citizens before issuing licenses. "They must provide original federal immigration documents which we then electronically check for authenticity/validity against a USCIS database before issuance," Bohrer stated.
It's worth noting that the U.S. naturalization process typically takes 6 months to a year to complete. Non-citizens who vote illegally can face severe consequences, including deportation and criminal charges.
Ohio, considered a swing state in presidential elections, uses electronic voting machines in most of its 88 counties. The state's voting system, like others in the U.S., operates under the Electoral College system rather than a direct popular vote for presidential elections.
In conclusion, while Haitian migrants with legal status can obtain driver's licenses in Ohio, these documents do not grant them voting rights. The state has robust measures in place to ensure that only U.S. citizens participate in elections, maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.
"I want to give these folks the benefit of the doubt and say that most of them didn't intend to break the law. We want to make sure a mistaken registration doesn't become an illegal vote."
This statement reflects Ohio's commitment to fair and lawful elections while acknowledging the complexity of the issue for non-citizens navigating the system.