Alaska Drops Voter Cases Against American Samoans.
Alaska prosecutors dropped voter misconduct cases Friday against 11 American Samoans who checked 'U.S. citizen' on voter registration forms. A state appeals court ruling blocked the lead case, finding no proof of intentional wrongdoing.
- 11 residents of Whittier, roughly 50 miles southeast of Anchorage, faced charges.
- A three-judge appeals panel ruled state law requires proof of 'consciousness of wrongdoing.'
- Tupe Smith said city officials told her marking 'citizen' was appropriate when no 'national' option existed.
- Acting Attorney General Cori Mills said prosecutors could not prove the cases beyond a reasonable doubt.
Why it matters: American Samoa is the only U.S. territory where birth does not automatically confer citizenship. Residents are U.S. nationals who can serve in the military but cannot vote in most U.S. elections or hold federal office.
- Naturalization is available but can be costly and complicated, according to reporting on the case.
How 5 sources split on this story
Where they split: Both outlets covered the same AP report with no factual disagreement; the only framing difference is whether the prosecution's basis is questioned.
Center coverage, 2 sources: The center presents the dismissal as a straightforward legal outcome, adding the defense team's argument that prosecutors lacked evidence of wrongdoing from the start.
Left coverage, 2 sources: The left frames the case around the flawed interrogation of Smith — a non-native English speaker — and the court's finding that her 'yes' answer resulted from a confusing, compound police question.
What’s next: The appeals ruling now governs Alaska's voter misconduct statute in future cases.
- Neil Weare, co-director of the Right to Democracy Project, said the dismissal raises questions about why the prosecution was brought at all.
- Why did Whittier city officials advise American Samoans to check the citizen box, and will they face any accountability?
- Will the appeals court standard affect how other states handle similar voter registration cases involving U.S. nationals?