Section 3501.055 | Election integrity unit.
(A) There is in the office of the secretary of state the election integrity unit.
(B) Under the direction of the secretary of state, the election integrity unit shall do all of the following:
(1) Investigate alleged violations of Title XXXV of the Revised Code on the unit's own initiative, upon receiving a complaint under this section, or upon the filing of a complaint with the secretary of state under section 3517.16 of the Revised Code;
(2) Allow the public to submit allegations of violations of Title XXXV of the Revised Code to the unit;
(3) Submit a report to the governor and the general assembly not later than the fifteenth day of January of each year. The report shall include all of the following with respect to the previous calendar year:
(a) The number of allegations the unit received from members of the public;
(b) The number of allegations the unit investigated on its own initiative;
(c) The number of allegations the unit referred to another agency for further investigation or prosecution;
(d) All of the following concerning each allegation:
(i) The general nature of the allegation;
(ii) The county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred;
(iii) Whether the allegation has been referred to another agency for further investigation or prosecution, and if so, to which agency;
(iv) The current status of the investigation or any resulting criminal or civil proceeding.
(C) In performing its duties, the election integrity unit may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summon witnesses, compel the production of books, papers, records, and other evidence, and hold hearings.
(D) Within one year after receiving a referral for further investigation or prosecution from the election integrity unit, the prosecuting attorney shall either prosecute the violation or provide to the election integrity unit a written statement declining to prosecute the referral or requesting any additional evidence needed. If the prosecuting attorney requests additional evidence, the election integrity unit shall provide such evidence, if available, within ninety days after receiving the request. Within one hundred eighty days after receiving the additional evidence, the prosecuting attorney either shall prosecute the violation or provide a written statement to the election integrity unit explaining a reason for declining to prosecute. If the prosecuting attorney fails to provide this statement within one hundred eighty days after receiving the additional evidence, the election integrity unit may refer the violation to the attorney general for further investigation or prosecution.
Last updated August 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 30, 2025 – Enacted by House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly [ View September 30, 2025 Version ]