Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, who is running for Secretary of State as a Republican, made a X post saying that only U.S. citizens should vote in Ohio and promising to verify citizenship up front for every person who registers to vote if he’s elected.
The announcement, which highlights a plan to “run the most secure elections in the country,” received a strong online reaction, with some saying it’s not needed, and others supporting more stringent requirements. The post set off a lively debate among Ohioans with the primary just months away.
Robert Sprague, a Republican candidate for Secretary of State, shared the statement on the platform X under his username @RobertCSprague.
In the video, Sprague directly addresses election security, stating that only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote in Ohio and calling it common sense. He pledges that, if elected Secretary of State, his office will check citizenship up front for every voter registrant to ensure the state runs the most secure elections in the country. The footage focuses solely on his announcement, without showing any additional interactions or events.
Ohio’s Constitution explicitly limits voting to U.S. citizens, and both federal and state laws already prohibit non-citizen voting, with rare documented prosecutions. The video and post do not present specific evidence or statistics of widespread non-citizen voting in Ohio, nor do they show or describe current verification practices used by county boards of elections.
Strong Reactions Pour In After Sprague’s Election Security Pledge
Some commenters questioned the need for the proposal, with one writing, “Ohio elections are 99.9% accurate. Quit trying to ‘fix’ a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Another stated, “It’s not a problem. Republicans just lie to people constantly,” while a third argued that existing laws already prohibit non-citizen voting and suggested the move aims to restrict certain citizens’ access to the ballot.
Others had more critical feedback, with comments like “Sprague is just another LaRose”, “dangerous to democracy”, or alleging Republicans make problems so they can find a solution.
A handful seemed to back the concept for the citizenship verification plan by making sarcastic or direct comments, pointing out shortcomings in the current system.
This step was taken as Sprague is canvassing ahead of the May 5 Republican primary for Ohio Secretary of State. His remarks are reinforcing the ongoing debate across the state regarding election security and voter registration holds.
