A group of American Samoans living in Whittier is in trouble for voting when they were not legally allowed to do so.
The State of Alaska has announced criminal charges against 10 residents of Whittier in connection with alleged voter misconduct and perjury. The charges, filed on April 4, follow an investigation conducted by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation and are being prosecuted by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.
All 10 are US nationals born in American Samoa, but they are not US citizens, a legal distinction that plays a central role in the charges. Under Alaska law, only US. citizens are eligible to vote in federal, state, and local elections.
“Everyone who is eligible to vote and properly registered to vote is encouraged to vote,” said Alaska Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore in a statement. “To be clear, you must be a citizen to vote in Alaska in any election — federal, state, or local.”
The accused individuals allegedly registered and voted despite not meeting the citizenship requirement, prompting charges of voter misconduct, perjury, and other related offenses. Authorities say the investigation began after concerns were raised regarding the eligibility of several voters in the small port town of Whittier.
“We will aggressively investigate any report of voter misconduct we receive and work with our partners to hold those who violate Alaska law accountable for their actions,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes of the Alaska State Troopers.
In September, roughly 25 American Samoan residents of Whittier reported being questioned by Alaska State Troopers about their immigration status and voting activities. This stemmed from an investigation by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation, which was looking into potential voter misconduct. The residents, including Michael Pese and his family, claimed they were unfairly targeted, with troopers arriving at their homes in Begich Towers—where most of Whittier’s population lives, and workplaces, armed with lists and photos. They asserted their status as US nationals, not illegal immigrants, and felt the scrutiny was unwarranted.
Tupe Smith, Michael Pese’s wife, faced five earlier voter misconduct charges after running unopposed for a school board seat in 2023.
Smith is American Samoan national. She won the election, but her participation triggered scrutiny from the Alaska Division of Elections, which marked her records as “suspicious” and referred the case to investigators.
Her attorney argued that any voting was due to confusion, not intent to break the law; Smith reportedly believed she could vote in local elections as a US national, although Alaska law requires citizenship for all elections. A grand jury declined to indict her on several charges, and a dismissal motion for the remaining ones is still pending.
The names are:
Elisapeta Tauta Pese
Grace Tuie Galea’i
Jan Miriam Talia
Mark Pese
Mathew Pese
Michael Pese
Miliama Suli
Nelson Vaimoa
Salvation Mikaele
Chelsea Talia
The cases in Whittier, small and close-knit community of less than 300, bring renewed attention to the legal status of US nationals, particularly those born in American Samoa and Swains Island, who do not automatically receive US citizenship at birth, unlike individuals born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
And, the leftists will continue to insist that there is absolutely no evidence of voter fraud. None whatsoever.
Wouldn’t surprise me. My late husband and I boated for years out of Whittier in the 90s and early 2000s.Lots of goofers there 20 years ago.
Just the tip of the iceberg/.
They all will walk, because they were “confused”.
“It’s just a little bit of fraud..and it’s Whittier..so who really cares. Just look at what Trumps doing!”
-The egotistical four left wing MRAK commenters.
You know who you are.
I’m okay with this. These people ALL knew what they were doing. If there was a way to see how they voted, it would seal it. EVERY American vote is precious. These folks doing this cheapens those vote. Now, if they are refused a plea deal and face a prosecutor who will do the right thing, all will be much better.
I expect a bought and paid for judge to rule the State of Alaska has “No Standing”.
Of course there isn’t. I didn’t even my ballot in the mail until the Saturday before the due date. I had a short time to get it turned in and I wasn’t the only one this happened too. At least 2 other people I know. One is disabled and was not in any shape to get the ballot in the mail. Thank goodness she asked me if I could come and mail it for her. How many others did this happen too?
Deport!
I’m all for changing the law if their kids try out for nose tackle.
Hang them.
Deport them!
So confusing, that voter registration form question asking if you are a citizen of our country. Maybe they used an auto-pen to register.
According to the coverage from another (much more left-leaning) local news source, the individuals’ drivers licenses showed them as “citizens”, which in turn allowed them to register to vote. Supposedly when they applied for the licenses, DMV told them to just “check the U.S. Citizen box, because its the same thing as being a U.S. National”. They are, for the record, NOT the same thing. Sounds a bit like there may be a larger problem at DMV that needs to be looked into. There is a growing population in Alaska of Pacific Islanders, and I would be curious how many of them are not actually citizens, but U.S. Nationals.
Kick them out of the state and forever bar them from ever receiving citizenship.
Rampant voter fraud. Time to prosecute.
These individuals who have voted may or may not have been aware of the laws of voting. However there are steps to ensure that only US citizens are eligible to vote and there are individuals who review questionable ballots. My guess is that this was never accomplished by the clerk of elections.
Well, gotta point out what should be obvious to everyone. I’ll just be rude enough to say it.
Look around Anchorage. Look at the politics of Anchorage.
Then consider how many non-citizen nationals (Samoans) you see everyday in Anchorage and then wonder how many of them benefit from government largesse.
Now, accusation Isn’t evidence, but frankly, if it walks like a dog and barks like a dog…
If found guilty the revoke their green cards and get them a one way ticket.
Does the PFD system automatically register them to vote?
The fine should include ALL the PFD money they have collected since they have been in Alaska.
That may give incentive to follow the state laws regarding voting.
Susanne
If the F. Nationals got a PFD check were they registered to vote by the State due to that?
I am looking into it. – sd
Deport to Venezuela; no more PFD’s, bags of fries and burgers paid for by Alaskan welfare dollars. ‘Poly’ that.
I was in the Muldoon Walmart Monday. I had to ask the location of an item, it took 10 minutes to find someone that could understand English. Are this people voting after filling out their PFD?
Well, you can’t deport US nationals.
Or even ban from the state.
Bud small criminal record would work.
So why are they US Nationals and not full US Citizens? American Samoa is American soil, so why the distinction?
Who put them up to it?
Who paid them to do it?
How much were they paid to do it?
How many others are doing it but haven’t been caught?
How About the Cornell West 700 in Kipnuk, anyone figure that out?
Something needs to change. They should not have been able/allowed to register to vote, if they’re not legally allowed to. The registrars, DMV, or whoever allowed them to register should be charged. Being allowed to apply & register to vote gave them good reason to believe they had a right to vote. This system needs to be corrected and the rules/laws made much more clear, so that others don’t make the same innocent mistake!
On April 4, Alaska’s Bureau of Investigation announced the charges, underscoring the legal quirk: only US citizens can vote under state law. Imagining families learning they inadvertently broke the law is gut‑wrenching.
It’s disturbing to learn that in September, troopers showed up at Begich Towers armed with lists and photos, questioning Michael Pese, Tupe Smith, and others about their immigration status after “suspicious” voter registrations surfaced. They insisted they were US nationals, not illegal immigrants, yet felt unfairly targeted in their own homes.
Smith’s story hit me hardest—she won a school board seat running unopposed in 2023 but then faced five misconduct charges and now fights a motion to dismiss. That kind of legal limbo, especially over what seems like genuine confusion, must be terrifying in a tight‑knit town of under 300 people.
I had no idea American Samoan–born nationals don’t automatically receive US citizenship like folks from Puerto Rico or Guam—it shines a harsh light on the gaps in voter education and DMV processes. This isn’t just a Whittier problem; it could impact Pacific Islander communities statewide.