AP reporters in Alaska flagged an unusual federal case in Whittier, where 11 members of a single American Samoan family voted or attempted to vote in a local school board election—unaware that, as U.S. nationals, they were not legally permitted to do so.
Unlike other U.S. territories, people born in American Samoa are not granted citizenship at birth. Though they carry U.S. passports, serve in the military, and vote in local elections within the territory, they are barred from voting or holding office elsewhere in the United States.
Alaska-based reporters Becky Bohrer and Mark Thiessen surfaced the case and brought in Pacific Northwest Chief Correspondent Gene Johnson as lead writer. Manuel Valdes produced the accompanying video to further elevate the story across platforms.
Their reporting explored the legal, historical and political implications of this unique status—examining how the U.S. territory’s colonial past continues to affect the rights of its residents. The story also shed light on how these complexities intersect with growing voter fraud rhetoric during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Through sharp, contextual reporting, the team offered a nuanced look at how American Samoans are navigating identity, legal ambiguity and electoral exclusion in a moment of heightened political scrutiny.
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