Alaska Prosecutes American Samoans for Alleged Voter Fraud | JQJO

Eleven residents of Whittier, Alaska, mostly related, face felony charges for allegedly falsely claiming U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. They were born in American Samoa, a U.S. territory where birthright citizenship doesn't automatically apply. This case highlights the complex issue of U.S. nationality versus citizenship, particularly for American Samoans who are U.S. nationals but not automatically citizens. Similar confusion has occurred in other states, prompting discussions about the definition of birthright citizenship and the need for clearer voting registration processes.