LaRose issues directive to county boards of elections following new Congressional District Map

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued Directive 2025-55 to all 88 county boards of elections on Nov. 21, following the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s unanimous adoption of a new bipartisan Congressional District Map.

LaRose provided “Congressional District Shapefiles, Equivalency (Block Assignment) Files, Legal Descriptions and Most Populous County List for Each District” to support local implementation, according to a press release.

All impacted county boards must begin reprogramming their voter registration systems to align with the new district boundaries, and the work must be completed by Dec. 12.

“While boards are reminded that candidate petitions cannot be verified or certified until reprogramming is complete, this serves as the kick-off for what will be high-profile congressional elections in 2026,” LaRose said in a release. “I’m confident that our boards of elections will take the necessary care to ensure an accurate changeover.”

On Nov. 12, LaRose updated the convenient “Find My District” tool so any Ohioan can see how the change may impact their district.

“This is an important resource not only for voters but also for candidates preparing to circulate petitions for the districts they want to represent,” he said. “Ohioans deserve clarity and transparency in our elections, and that is exactly what we deliver.”

The filing deadline for declarations of candidacy for the primary election on May 5, 2026, is Feb. 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

The filing deadline for write-in declarations of intent is Feb. 23, 2026, at 4 p.m.

The press release said that candidates considering running for office next year are encouraged to thoroughly review the 2026 Candidate Requirement Guide and consult their own legal counsel to ensure they meet all requirements.

LaRose has been fighting for election integrity in Ohio for a very long time. One example of that would be him winning a lawsuit and thus protecting Ohio elections from foreign interference.

“The General Assembly acted quickly to stop it, and, almost immediately, activist groups sued to keep their foreign dollars flowing,” he wrote. “They failed, and Ohio’s ban on foreign dark money has been rightfully upheld. I want to thank my legal team and the attorney general’s office for their work in successfully defending this important law.”

LaRose also ensured the integrity of the elections in the state by using an AI-powered election administration assistant, implemented interactive tools for Ohio voters, uncovered cases of voter fraud, invited federal agents to look at Ohio’s voter data and prevented illegal immigrants and dead people from voting.