Arcen Cetin, who is not is a U.S. citizen and stands accused of murdering five people in a Washington-state mall, didn't neglect his civic duty–he voted illegally in several U.S. presidential elections. A Seattle TV station broke the story:

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," explained Secretary of State Kim Wyman. "So, we’re in this place where we want to make sure we’re maintaining people’s confidence in the elections and the integrity of the process, but also that we’re giving this individual, like we would any voter, his due process. We’re moving forward, and that investigation is really coming out of the investigation from the shootings." 

The penalty for voting as a non U.S. citizen could result in five years of prison time or a $10,000, according to Secretary of State's Office. 

"The penalties are very serious. That’s why we want to make sure we’re very measured, and this is why we want to make sure we’re very calm and purposeful in how we move forward," Wyman continued. "The stakes are very high on both sides. You want to keep the confidence level high, but you also want to protect the voting rights of everyone."

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

To recap: the state has no provision to make sure a voter is a citizen and thus entitled to cast the vote legally. State officials put a premium on being calm and measured rather than outraged and in hot pursuit of voter fraud. My bolding.

As the Weekly Standard points out, Cetin's voting might just be an especially striking example of the voter fraud that doesn't exist:

Meanwhile—despite the incessant drumbeat telling us there has never in the history of the Republic been a case of voter fraud—research published in Electoral Studies has found that non-citizens vote in significant enough numbers to actually sway elections. Yet liberal groups oppose states requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

Their argument is that it's better to err on the side of enfranchising more people. These laws "[exclude] legitimate voters who do not have documentary proof of citizenship," they say. But at what cost?

I wonder if Cetin sported one of those  "I Voted" stickers before murdering five strangers.