Alaska Drops Voter Charges for American Samoans | Dallas News

Alaska prosecutors are dropping all voter misconduct cases against American Samoan residents after a landmark court ruling that redefines what constitutes criminal intent — the decision centers on Tupe Smith, who was charged with felony fraud for mistakenly checking a box indicating U.S. citizenship on her voter registration form, when she’s actually a U.S. national, not a citizen. The appeals court ruled that Alaska law demands proof of “consciousness of wrongdoing,” not just an honest mistake — and found prosecutors failed to prove Smith knew she was ineligible or intended to deceive. This case clears a major legal hurdle for American Samoans, who can’t vote in most U.S. elections despite holding passports and serving in the military, and sets a precedent that unintentional errors won’t land someone in jail. Smith’s lawyer hailed the ruling as a step toward healing for her community, emphasizing that the court made it clear: you can’t be convicted of a felony for simply filling out a form incorrectly without proof of bad intent. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.fox4news.com/news/alaska-drops-voter-misconduct-american-samoans More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6fecfedfec7e610d Report issues to [email protected].