Key facts
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin repeated unsubstantiated claims about noncitizen voters and election integrity.
- Mullin warned states could face penalties, including fines or prison time, for failing to comply with federal election security demands.
- The claims about noncitizen voters are based on incomplete data, according to election experts.
- Federal judges have previously ruled that the federal government cannot legally demand access to states' sensitive voter data.
- Mullin pledged to aggressively monitor public voter lists to pursue potential voter fraud cases.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has reiterated unsubstantiated claims about noncitizen voters and election integrity, echoing President Donald Trump's persistent assertions. Mullin warned state officials that they could face penalties, including loss of funding or investigations, if they do not comply with federal election security demands.
Mullin advanced a claim, previously made by Trump, that the federal government had identified 250,000 noncitizen voters on the rolls in California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Election experts, however, state that the public data used for such investigations is insufficiently detailed to accurately identify noncitizens. Officials in California and Pennsylvania indicated they would review the findings but emphasized their own voter list maintenance processes, noting that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare.
California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Mullin's threats by asserting the state's commitment to free, fair, and secure elections. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar expressed confidence in the integrity of his state's voter file. Mullin also pledged to aggressively monitor public voter lists to pursue potential voter fraud cases and urged states to participate in the Department of Homeland Security's overhauled SAVE program. However, the program's use has been blocked by a federal judge due to privacy concerns and the risk of wrongful purges of eligible voters. Experts noted that federal courts have consistently ruled against the government's legal ability to demand access to states' sensitive voter data.
Additionally, Mullin raised concerns about vulnerabilities in electronic voting machines, a point also emphasized by Trump. While voting experts acknowledge potential risks, election officials maintain that numerous safeguards are in place to prevent vote rigging, including physical security, machine tests, postelection reviews, and paper ballot backups.