Alaska Voter Fraud Charges Highlight Unsettled Citizenship Status of American Samoans

The recent felony voter fraud charges against Tupe Smith, a school board member in Alaska, have ignited a crucial debate over the citizenship status of American Samoans and their rights in U.S. elections. Smith, born in American Samoa—the only U.S. territory where birth does not automatically confer citizenship—is fighting to dismiss the indictment that accuses her of deliberately misrepresenting her citizenship on voter registration forms. How Did We Get Here? The Complex Citizenship Reality for American Samoans American Samoans occupy a unique and often overlooked place within America's borders: they are U.S. nationals but not citizens at birth. This nuance...