Ohio Republicans won a big victory Tuesday night, with the state counting its votes the same day. Not only did Governor Mike DeWine and Senator-elect J.D. Vance win big, but they did this ballot initiative explaining that foreigners cannot vote in local elections. According to the Associated Press, this initiative won with over 77% of the votes and 95% of the submissions.
Townhall spoke with Secretary of State Frank LaRose at an event in Vance in September. He explained that there was a need for such an initiative that would amend the state constitution to clarify that “Just “a citizen of the United States… has the right to vote in all elections” – took place after a referendum in the city of Yellow Springs, which decided to allow non-citizens of the United States to vote in local elections.
Although the city withdrew after receiving LaRose’s letter stating it could do no such thing, further clarity was still needed, and Ohio voters overwhelmingly expressed this.
“This is a clear victory for the sanctity of Ohio elections. With the passage of today’s No. 2, Ohioans have confirmed once and for all that America’s elections are for American citizens only,” LaRose said in a statement to Townhall.
Foreigners can vote in Vermont in municipal elections in the capital of Montpelier and in Winooski after the Democratic Legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT). New York City tried to allow foreigners to do the same in the city, but the courts overturned that decision in June.
Additionally, Ohioans passed through bail reform ballot initiative equally decisively. AP has that score at 77.6 percent with 94 percent reporting.
The initiative supported amending the state constitution to read: “In determining the amount of bail, the court shall consider public safety, including the seriousness of the offense, the person’s criminal record, the likelihood of the person returning to court, and any other factor that the assembly may recommend general.”
Even Republican Tim Ryan (D-OH), who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Vance, claimed to support the ballot initiative during a Fox News town hall the week before the election. It was a lavish and also desperate attempt on Ryan’s part, considering that during his brief 2019 presidential campaign, he signed an ACLU pledge that included support for a cashless bail system, one that is devastating New York State.
Secretary LaRose won his own re-election by over 20 points. With 80 percent of the vote, she has 59.88 percent of the vote, and Democrat Chelsea Clark has 39.11 percent.
