US Security Secretary Claims Irregularities in Voter Census; Accuses Iran of Hacking State Voter Files

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin asserted that his department has identified 278,000 non-citizens registered to vote and an additional 400,000 deceased individuals remaining on voter rolls. Speaking at a press conference without presenting evidence, Mullin stated that approximately 250,000 non-citizen registrations are concentrated in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada. He also claimed that through the Trump administration's "Save" program, which examines electoral records in 23 participating states, an additional 28,000 non-citizens were located.

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If someone is in an irregular migratory situation and tried to vote, or tried to vote illegally on behalf of someone else, we will find them and prosecute them. Both illegal voting and attempted illegal voting carry penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

Mullin warned that individuals who are in the country illegally and attempted to vote, or tried to vote illegally on behalf of someone else, will be found and prosecuted. He noted that illegal voting or attempted illegal voting carries penalties of up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Furthermore, Mullin alleged that "foreign adversaries" supply components essential for voting machines and have access to key elements of these systems, though he provided no supporting evidence for these claims.

These statements come a day after President Donald Trump questioned the integrity of the U.S. electoral system and accused China of interfering in the 2020 elections. In this instance, Mullin also pointed to Iran amid escalating conflicts, asserting that the Persian nation "hacked state voter files and attempted to compromise them." He added that the U.S. is collaborating with the Department of Defense to safeguard systems used by military personnel to vote.

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Our systems are the ones used by members of the armed forces to vote, so we are collaborating with the Department of War to safeguard these systems and protect our military voters.

During his remarks, Trump claimed to possess documents demonstrating that Beijing illicitly obtained the records of 220 million U.S. voters. However, documentation released by the White House did not conclude that the 2020 elections were manipulated or that their outcome was altered. The Secretary of Homeland Security's assertions regarding voter rolls and foreign interference add another layer to ongoing debates about election security.

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Foreign adversaries supply components considered essential for voting machines and that those countries have access to key elements of those systems.