WA Mall Shooter Voted in Three Elections Despite Not Being a Citizen

"We don’t have a provision in state law that allows us officials to verify someone’s citizenship."

9.29.2016 

 

News

 

 Tiffany Gabbay 

 

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NBC affiliate King5 reports that Arcan Cetin, the Turkish Muslim (not Hispanic) who shot and killed five people at the Cascade Mall in Washington State, voted in three separate elections despite not holding U.S. citizenship: 

Federal sources confirm to KING 5 that Cetin was not a U.S. citizen, meaning legally he cannot vote. However, state records show Cetin registered to vote in 2014 and participated in three election cycles, including the May presidential primary.

Cetin, who immigrated to the United States from Turkey as a child, is considered a permanent resident or green card holder. While a permanent resident can apply for U.S. citizenship after a certain period of time, sources tell KING his status had not changed from green card holder to U.S. citizen.

While voters must attest to citizenship upon registering online or registering to vote at the Department of Licensing Office, Washington state doesn't require proof of citizenship. Therefore elections officials say the state's elections system operates, more or less, under an honor system.

"We don’t have a provision in state law that allows us either county elections officials or the Secretary of State's office to verify someone’s citizenship," WA Secretary of State Kim Wyman said in explanation. 

Lovely. 

Wyman says while it's impossible to determine an exact number, she does not believe this case points to a larger issue. 

"Our hands are kind of tied, but make no mistake, we want to make sure that everybody has confidence that people casting ballots are eligible. This is certainly going to be a topic at next legislation." 

The penalty for voting as a non-U.S. citizen could result in five years of prison time or a $10,000 fine, according to the Secretary of State's Office. That's something of a moot point considering the state's laws make it nearly impossible to determine if someone voting is eligible in the first place.