CINCINNATI -- Ohio's Secretary of State has one message for people considering voter fraud on Election Day.
"Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. We’ll catch you and prosecute you if you do, but we don’t have problems with that stuff," Husted told WCPO's Kathrine Nero on Good Morning Tri-State, adding that voter fraud constitutes a fifth-degree felony.
Husted also reassured voters that "Ohio is a place where it is easy to vote and hard to cheat." He said maintaining voter rolls and checking IDs minimizes chances of fraud in the Buckeye State.
Ohio saw 1.8 million voters cast ballots during the early voting period, which set a new early voting record for the state. Husted expects nearly 4 million additional voters to cast their votes Tuesday. He said 35,000 poll workers were set up around Ohio by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to operate nearly 9,000 precinct locations.
As for voter intimidation, Husted said observers are allowed at the polls, but they must register through their local boards of elections and carry credentials.
"They’re not allowed to interact with voters," Husted said. "They’re not allowed to interject themselves into the process. They can observe and report problems if they see any, but voter intimidation — not allowed. If you do something like that, you’ll be asked to vacate the premises. If you don’t do it peaceably, we will call law enforcement, and they will be there to remove you."
Despite the talk of potential problems this Election Day, Husted insists that Ohioans don't really see major issues at polls, saying "we do things the right way."
