State officials are pushing back on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) claims that tens of thousands of noncitizens are registered to vote, demanding clarity on the agency’s methodology. The dispute follows a letter from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to officials in Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, and New Jersey, asserting that the four states collectively have over 250,000 noncitizens on their voter rolls. Mullin also threatened potential prison time for officials who fail to secure elections.
States Demand Transparency
Ahead of Mullin’s two-week deadline for a response, officials in California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania questioned how DHS arrived at its conclusions. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, a Democrat, criticized the lack of transparency, stating, 'The American public deserves transparency in how their private information is being used at the federal level.' Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, similarly requested details on how DHS matched Social Security numbers to voter registrants.
House Committee Seeks Briefings
Meanwhile, the House Committee on House Administration, led by Republican Chairman Bryan Steil, requested classified briefings from DHS, the FBI, and the Director of National Intelligence on noncitizen voting and alleged Chinese election interference. Steil cited President Donald Trump’s claims of 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote and a 2023-2024 New Jersey software error that added 6,600 noncitizens to voter rolls. The committee also raised concerns about cyber vulnerabilities in U.S. voting systems.
Ongoing Tensions
The dispute highlights tensions between state and federal authorities over election integrity. While DHS maintains its findings, state officials argue the agency has not provided sufficient evidence or transparency. The House committee’s request for briefings underscores bipartisan concerns about election security ahead of the November midterm elections.