LaRose launches an institute to continue preparing for the 2026 election

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced on Wednesday that his department launched a new program to educate Ohio officials about the legal requirements and standard operating procedures for administering elections.

LaRose said that he and his department would apply “continuous learning and improvement,” the two “core concepts of readiness in the military,” to prepare for the upcoming 2026 election.

“We’re responsible for running a statewide operation that impacts millions of people, not only throughout the year but especially on the designated days we open up the polls to vote,” he said. “Readiness for that kind of logistical effort requires an immersive and ongoing learning experience, from execution to evaluation. That is what this new institute is designed to provide.”

According to a news release, new members, directors and deputy directors of an Ohio county board of elections would be required to complete six training credits within six months of appointment, as well as eight more credits in their first full year.

Those board members, directors and deputies who stayed in office or were reappointed would also be required to complete at least eight credits of continuing-education training every year.

“Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, this new training platform certainly provides a more dynamic and engaging way to help Ohio’s election professionals build the knowledge and skills needed for success,” Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Election Officials, said.

The officials would have access to the most current instruction content produced by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, such as the Candidate Requirement Guide, the Campaign Finance Handbook and the Ohio Ballot Questions and Issues Handbook.

LaRose became well known both in the Buckeye State and nationwide for his election integrity efforts, like uncovering 1,200 cases of possible voter fraud, as Ohio.News reported.

In addition, LaRose announced on Nov. 14 that Ohio won the lawsuit against liberal activists and their dark-money-funded national legal team, which wanted to allow foreign contributions to ballot-measure campaigns.

“The General Assembly acted quickly to stop it, and, almost immediately, activist groups sued to keep their foreign dollars flowing,” he said. “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 announced that his office had trained and deployed Ohio’s first AI-powered election administration assistant, as well as provided an easy way for them to identify both their current and newly established congressional districts.