Residents ask Orrville council to back resolution demanding audit and "legally valid" 2024 election

Wendy McKean, representing a volunteer group calling itself United Sovereign Americans, told Orrville City Council on Nov.4 that her organization's "national data team" had found "alarming discrepancies" in Ohio's 2022 voter database and asked the council to sign a resolution demanding a "legally valid 2024 general election." McKean said the group has shared its information "with state election officials and law enforcement" and would leave a master copy of the resolution and a self-addressed envelope with the city clerk for signatures.

Susan Sonic, who identified herself as a Worcester resident, read numbers that she characterized as results of an "open source audit" of Ohio's 2022 election, including claims of "1,046,431 ineligible or uncertain registrations" and "602,631 votes cast by ineligible or uncertain registrants." Sonic said the audit found "1,162,079 more votes counted than voters who voted" at the time of certification and called that certification "fraudulent and illegal." The figures were presented by the speakers as their group's findings; council staff and members did not verify them during the meeting.

Thomas Wood, also a Worcester resident, outlined nine changes the group wants, including requiring proof of citizenship when registering, making certified voter rolls available 30 days before early voting begins, using hand-marked ballots with verifiable imaging, maintaining an end-to-end chain of custody for ballots and cast-vote records, and conducting NIST-compliant, randomized audits. Doreen Miller, another group representative, said the organization maintains a website with materials and asked council members to sign the resolution if they supported it.

Councilors and staff asked follow-up questions. One council member requested an update on a federal lawsuit filed Aug.8 related to the group's claims; a staff speaker said respondents had moved to dismiss and briefing was ongoing. A poll-worker who spoke during public comment described precinct procedures and ballot security, saying the polling-place process he supervises is "a very tight system" and "it is secure. You can't cheat." Council President then moved the meeting on to committee and administrative reports.

Why it matters: The petition and the resolution request reflect local attention to statewide election concerns raised by outside groups. The speakers presented detailed allegations and named procedural reforms; the claims were not vetted at the meeting and were framed by presenters as the group's audit results and recommendations.

What happens next: The speakers left a master copy of their resolution and offered to gather signatures; council members discussed but did not vote on a resolution during the Nov.4 meeting. Staff noted related litigation remains active in federal court.