Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Friday that states refusing to comply with the Trump administration’s election-security requirements could lose federal funding, while warning that election officials who disregard information provided by DHS could face fines, penalties or even prison time.
“If the election officials, once we gave them the information they need to secure their elections and they chose not to, then those individuals can also be held accountable by fines, by penalties, and even depending on how far it goes, prison time,” said Mullin.
Mullin held a press conference following President Donald Trump’s address to the nation Thursday evening on “free and fair” elections. Mullin did not identify what law election officials would violate or what charges could be brought if they declined to act on information provided by DHS.
Trump announced the declassification of intelligence that he alleged reveals “shocking vulnerabilities” related to “hacking, exploitation and foreign interference.”
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Twenty-three states are participating in DHS’ expanded SAVE program, which allows election officials to compare voter records against federal immigration data. Mullin separately said CISA would release an updated election-infrastructure plan within 30 days. Several Republican-led states, including Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia, are not currently participating in the partnership.
“Every state that’s not participating with us should be asked the hard question why not? What are you afraid of? If they’re not willing to do it … it should raise serious questions. It’s not that hard. This isn’t a partisan issue,” said Mullin.
DHS has announced election-security conditions for recipients of FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program. Mullin also said he was working with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on security requirements.
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Mullin said DHS identified 250,000 voter-registration records in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania that the department believes belong to noncitizens.
Mullin urged all states to join DHS’ election security program so officials can compare voter rolls against federal immigration and other databases to identify potentially ineligible registrations.
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“States must do their part to secure our election system, and we stand by to help,” said Mullin.
During the press conference, Mullin urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act,, which includes provisions requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and photo identification at the polls.
“I think the Save Act should be passed tomorrow. I think it should have already been passed,” said Mullin.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has cast doubt on the bill’s path forward, saying Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and DHS for comment.