The White House press secretary has slammed New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill over noncitizens registered to vote in the Garden State, questioning the timing of the revelation as the administration tightens election security.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "I will say on New Jersey and this governor, the fact that she just all of a sudden decided to put out a press release saying President Trump and Republicans have been right about non-citizens on our voting rolls is not a coincidence." She added that the governor's actions suggest she realizes the administration is serious about getting to the bottom of illegal aliens voting and being on voter rolls in the country.
The issue came to light on Tuesday when it was revealed that 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote through New Jersey's Motor Vehicle System due to a "serious software error." The company providing identity-related security services has denied any wrongdoing. Leavitt believes New Jersey's acknowledgment of noncitizens on voter rolls further validates the administration's election integrity concerns.
Leavitt stated, "Sherrill is speaking truth about the fact that this does take place in states across the country. It is completely unacceptable to have non-citizens on American voter rolls voting in U.S. elections. and she says it's 6,600. We suspect it's a heck of a lot more, not just in New Jersey, but in states across the country."
The revelation of noncitizens on New Jersey voter rolls comes less than a week after President Trump's primetime address to the nation, during which he called for securing "free and fair" elections. Trump has renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship and photo identification to register and vote in federal elections.
As part of his efforts, Trump has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to notify every state about noncitizens on their voter rolls and direct them to remove all ineligible voters from the lists immediately. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned that election officials who disregard information provided by DHS could face fines, penalties, or even prison time.
When asked about the latest revelation in New Jersey, Leavitt referred the reporter to the Department of Justice. Mullin had previously stated, "If 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."
