BOARDMAN — Gov. Mike DeWine said he opposes President Donald Trump’s consideration of nationalizing elections.

“Our Constitution is pretty clear,” DeWine, a Republican, said during a Tuesday stop in Boardman. “Our elections are conducted by each state. In Ohio, we conduct elections very well. We have a system that just works exceedingly well.”

Trump, also a Republican, suggested Feb. 2 that the federal government “nationalize” elections in several states ahead of the pivotal midterm election in November that could decide who controls the U.S. House and Senate as well as local, county and statewide races.

Trump said: “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over.’ We should take over the voting in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”

Trump then followed up, saying: “The federal government should get involved” if states “can’t count the votes legally and honestly.”

Democrats have come out strongly in opposition to the comments with a number of Republicans also rejecting the notion.

DeWine said Tuesday he opposes any plan to nationalize elections.

“The states run the elections and they do a good job. Ohio does a good job, whether Democrats are in charge or Republicans are in charge. Ohio’s system is set up, frankly, down to the precinct level, where you have Democrats and Republicans both sitting there at every stage of the election. It works exceedingly well and we certainly should not nationalize the election. That would be something we’d never done before.”

Also, DeWine said Tuesday that if federal immigration agents come to Springfield, the state would be prepared.

The Trump administration sought to end temporary protected status Feb. 3 for Haitians with thousands of them living and working in Springfield, which was in the national spotlight during the 2024 presidential election when Trump falsely claimed Haitians in the city were eating cats and dogs.

A federal judge blocked the move with the Trump administration appealing the decision.

If the reprieve is lifted and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are sent to Springfield, DeWine said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would give him a 24-hour notice.

“We’re dealing here with a lot of hypotheticals,” he said.

DeWine added: “As governor, my job is to do everything I can to make sure that the public is safe. We don’t know if ICE will come in. We don’t know that the temporary protected status will end. None of these things we know at this point. But just in case it does end and just in case ICE does make a decision to come in and surge into Clark County and surge into some other part of the state, we want to be ready.”

If DeWine gets notice, he said the Ohio State Highway Patrol would “move very quickly because we’re all ready to do that.”

DeWine said the highway patrol would support local law enforcement.

DeWine said he opposes the removal of the temporary protected status for Haitians as it’s “a bad public policy decision. No. 1, the situation in Haiti is worse than it’s ever been. It’s more dangerous in Haiti. This is not a place where people can really return to. Maybe more importantly for Ohio, we need these individuals to continue to work.”

OHIOSEE

DeWine came Tuesday to Robinwood Lane Elementary School to discuss the Ohio Student Eye Exam (OhioSEE) Program.

The program started last month in 15 counties, including Mahoning, offering eye exams and free corrective eyeglasses to students in kindergarten through third grade.

About 80% of the children in those 15 counties who are identified through a vision screening as needing additional vision care do not receive it.

Through OhioSEE, a mobile vision van travels to schools — 59 school districts have done a first round and 34 are finalizing enrollment — provides exams, allows children to choose eyeglasses and then returns about three weeks later to distribute them.

On Tuesday, 18 Robinwood Lane students received their glasses.

Boardman Superintendent Chris Nieifer said: “Something as simple and as essential as being able to see clearly can make a life-changing difference for a child in a classroom. This program is a perfect example of how caring for a whole child leads to stronger outcomes for students, families and the community.”

DeWine had asked the Republican-controlled state Legislature to provide $40 million for the program. The program received $10 million and is focusing on the 15 counties. DeWine, who is serving his last year as governor, wants the program throughout the state.

“We’re going to demonstrate in the next few months just how important this is,” he said. “It’s very cost-effective. How much is it worth to make sure that a child who cannot see a blackboard or a smartboard, who can’t read well because everything looks blurry, how important is it they are able to see? It’s terribly important for them to be able to read and learn to read and everything they need to do.”