Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned Friday that states refusing to comply with federal election-security requirements could lose access to federal funding.
Mullin stated that election officials who ignore information provided by the Department of Homeland Security could face fines, penalties, or even prison time.
The remarks followed a national address by President Donald Trump on election integrity. Mullin did not specify which laws officials would violate or what charges might apply.
Mullin referenced the declassification of intelligence alleging "shocking vulnerabilities" involving hacking, exploitation, and foreign interference.
Twenty-three states are currently participating in DHS's expanded SAVE program, which lets election officials cross-check voter records with federal immigration data.
Several Republican-led states, including Mississippi, North Dakota, and West Virginia, have not joined the partnership. Mullin questioned why any state would decline participation.
Mullin confirmed that DHS identified 250,000 voter-registration records in California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania that the department believes belong to noncitizens.
He urged all states to join the program to compare voter rolls against federal databases and identify potentially ineligible registrations.
DHS is tying election-security conditions to recipients of FEMA's Homeland Security Grant Program. Mullin said he is coordinating with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on security standards.
Mullin also announced that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will release an updated election-infrastructure plan within 30 days.
During the briefing, Mullin pressed Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo ID at polls.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has cast doubt on the bill's prospects, noting Republicans lack the 60 votes needed to break a Democratic filibuster.
