The Licking County Board of Elections responded this week to concerns about an organization that asked the board to cancel registrations for voters who the organization said it believes are registered to vote in two states.
Board of Elections Director Brian Mead told the board Monday that its response to requests by the Ohio Election Integrity Network had been misunderstood by some people who responded with harsh and unfair criticism.
Mead and board members Dave Rhodes and Kaye Hartman were particularly upset that some people perceived their willingness to listen to Network representatives and accept information from them as “collaborating” with or turning over board duties to an outside organization.
“This board has always made decisions based on the best interests of the voters of Licking County,” Hartman said, adding the board viewed the requests and information the Network provided the same as it would any others that come from the public.
Mead said he felt like “we were made a pawn in an effort to push the secretary of state” to take action regarding the Network’s activities in Ohio.