Alaska Drops Charges for Samoan Voters | Global News

Alaska prosecutors are dropping felony voter misconduct charges against residents of American Samoa after a court ruled that the state must prove intent — not just mistakes — to convict. The case centered on Tupe Smith, who was indicted for misrepresenting her citizenship status on voter forms; the appeals court found the prosecution failed to show she knowingly broke the law. American Samoans, though U.S. nationals with passports and military service rights, aren’t automatically citizens and can’t vote in most U.S. elections — a legal gray area that led to confusion and now, a landmark ruling protecting against criminal penalties for honest errors. Smith’s lawyer hailed it as a vital safeguard, while Acting AG Cori Mills acknowledged they couldn’t meet the burden of proof. Smith, once elected to a school board, said she was misled by election officials who didn’t offer an option for “U.S. national.” The ruling clears the way for this community to move forward without fear of criminalization over bureaucratic oversights.

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This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/alaska-american-samoa-voter-fraud-citizenship-8c93f189cab05cb6f751be53cbf62c7a

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