"Due to security concerns experienced by the Secretary of State’s website, full functionality of the website has been suspended to protect the integrity of state records and data.  Full functionality will be restored when we are assured that all data has been protected to acceptable levels of security," said Secretary of State Brunner.

This latest incident was not the first time the Secretary of State’s office has had to address security issues. In recent weeks, phone lines and email channels have been flooded with menacing messages and even threats of harm or death.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is assisting with an investigation into the security breaches, Brunner said.

The site has since been back online and operating after the states technology department worked through the night to make sure that no information on the site could be compromised.

"Our focus is and has always been to protect the vote of every eligible Ohio voter from any kind of fraud, be it voter registration fraud, illegal voting or vote suppression.  This action has been taken to detect and prosecute any illegal breach of our voting infrastructure to maintain voter confidence," said Secretary Brunner.