Ohio Secretary of State GOP Candidates Push Voter Restrictions, Target Drop Boxes

Ohio’s 2026 race for secretary of state is shaping up as a referendum on voting access — and the Republican contenders are doubling down on restricting it. Treasurer Robert Sprague and his GOP primary opponent Marcell Strbich both want to eliminate ballot drop boxes and severely limit who can vote absentee, claiming these measures are necessary to stop voter fraud.

Sprague argued drop boxes are a “COVID-era” convenience that invite cheating, saying, “It’s impossible to enforce” and voters should just hand-deliver ballots to election boards during business hours. He insists these changes will restore trust in elections, despite scant evidence of fraud. “Voter fraud is limited,” Sprague admitted, “but it’s real. It has to be protected against.” He also wants to return to mostly in-person voting, restricting absentee ballots to those with a valid excuse like illness or military service.

Democratic candidates Allison Russo and Bryan Hambley strongly oppose these proposals. Russo called drop boxes “a convenient and safe way for voters to drop off absentee ballots” and said Sprague’s view is “a very privileged perspective” that ignores the realities of people with limited mobility or inflexible work schedules. Hambley slammed Sprague for chasing “the far, far right on drop boxes” and said Ohio should be making voting easier, not harder.

The current secretary of state, Republican Frank LaRose, has referred 119 alleged voter fraud cases for prosecution, with only about a dozen resulting in charges — underscoring how rare actual fraud is. Russo called Sprague’s claims a “myth of widespread voter fraud” used to justify “more hurdles for people to vote,” which only suppresses turnout and disenfranchises voters.

Election officials like Trumbull County’s board director Stephanie Penrose say drop boxes are secure and trusted by voters, monitored by cameras as required by law. Nearly a third of absentee voters in the upcoming election have used them.

This fight over drop boxes and absentee voting is part of a broader Republican strategy nationwide to restrict ballot access under false claims of fraud. Ohio’s GOP candidates are embracing that playbook, risking the very democratic participation they claim to protect. Meanwhile, Democrats vow to fight back and defend voting rights ahead of this critical election.