Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Friday that states refusing to comply with the Trump administration\u2019s 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.
\n\u201cIf 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,\u201d said Mullin.
\nMullin held a press conference following President Donald Trump\u2019s address to the nation Thursday evening on \u201cfree and fair\u201d 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.
\nTrump announced the declassification of intelligence that he alleged reveals \u201cshocking vulnerabilities\u201d related to \u201chacking, exploitation and foreign interference.\u201d
\n\u2018SHADOW GOVERNMENT\u2019: TRUMP CLAIMS INTEL COMMUNITY BRAGGED ABOUT HIDING CHINESE MEDDLING<\/p>\n
Twenty-three states are participating in DHS\u2019 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.
\n\u201cEvery state that\u2019s not participating with us should be asked the hard question why not? What are you afraid of? If they\u2019re not willing to do it \u2026 it should raise serious questions. It\u2019s not that hard. This isn\u2019t a partisan issue,\u201d said Mullin.
\nDHS has announced election-security conditions for recipients of FEMA\u2019s Homeland Security Grant Program. Mullin also said he was working with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on security requirements.
\nDHS PLANS COSTLY CRACKDOWN ON STATES THAT DON\u2019T COOPERATE ON ELECTION SECURITY<\/p>\n
Mullin said DHS identified 250,000 voter-registration records in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania that the department believes belong to noncitizens.
\nMullin urged all states to join DHS\u2019 election security program so officials can compare voter rolls against federal immigration and other databases to identify potentially ineligible registrations.
\nWATCH: ELISSA SLOTKIN SAYS SAVE AMERICA ACT WOULD MAKE IT \u2018HARD FOR ANY DEMOCRAT\u2019 TO WIN AN ELECTION<\/p>\n
\u201cStates must do their part to secure our election system, and we stand by to help,\u201d said Mullin.
\nDuring 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.
\n\u201cI think the Save Act should be passed tomorrow. I think it should have already been passed,\u201d said Mullin.
\nSenate Majority Leader John Thune has cast doubt on the bill\u2019s path forward, saying Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
\nFox News Digital reached out to the White House and DHS for comment.<\/p>\n
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