Alaska Drops Voter Cases Against American Samoans

Alaska prosecutors dropped voter misconduct cases against 11 American Samoan residents after a state appeals court ruled that prosecutors must prove a 'consciousness of wrongdoing.' The decision followed the overturning of felony charges against Tupe Smith, who had checked a U.S. citizen box on voter forms. American Samoa is the only U.S. territory where residents are U.S. nationals, not citizens, by birth.