Will ICE be at Ohio polling places? Secretary of State Frank LaRose says no

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents won't patrol Ohio polling places during the November election, said Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who called on election officials not to "validate unsupported claims."

In an Oct. 1 memo obtained by the statehouse bureau, LaRose told county boards of elections not to alter procedures based on "social media rumors, partisan commentary or speculation." The memo came days before Ohio begins early in-person voting for the Nov. 3 election, which features high-stakes races for governor and U.S. Senate.

"I recognize our obligation to be prepared for any realistic scenario that might arise during the voting process," LaRose said. "No one has placed a greater emphasis on readiness than we have during my administration. But fear is not an election plan, and rumor is not a security protocol."

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Democrats and voting rights advocates have expressed concern about ICE at the polls as President Donald Trump continues an aggressive immigration crackdown and pushes for more federal oversight of elections . A Latino civil rights group filed a lawsuit Sept. 10 that aims to keep ICE away, arguing armed agents would intimidate voters, USA TODAY reported .

Federal law prohibits troops from being stationed at polling places.

When asked about the prospect in May, Trump told reporters that he'd do "anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections." Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in September that ICE officers will only go to polling places to serve warrants or respond to specific threats.

Aaron Ockerman, executive director for the Ohio Association of Election Officials, said he'd received several questions from boards of elections about ICE.

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LaRose said at least one board conducted a tabletop exercise to prepare for a potential ICE scenario. In another county, LaRose said, some poll workers resigned "due to a perceived lack of clarity on the matter."

He urged election officials to notify his office if they receive credible information about federal law enforcement activity that could affect polling places.

"Whatever one's views on federal immigration policy, no eligible Ohio voter should be led to believe that exercising a lawful right to vote means walking into an immigration enforcement operation when the federal government itself says no such operation is planned," LaRose said.

Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said she was "pleased to see LaRose issue a reassurance to voters and election workers."

"The problem with rumors and fearmongering is that it could stop Ohio citizens from voting," Miller said, "and that would be unacceptable."

State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at  hbemiller@usatodayco.com  or @haleybemiller on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will ICE be at Ohio polling places? Secretary of State Frank LaRose says no