A Texas mother who was sentenced to five years in prison for voting illegally in the 2016 election has had her conviction reversed by the Texas Second Court of Appeals. Crystal Mason, a Black mother of three, cast a provisional ballot while on supervised release after serving time for tax fraud. She claimed she was unaware that her status as a felon on release made her ineligible to vote.
The court stated that the evidence was insufficient to support Mason's conviction for illegal voting under the Texas Election Code. Mason expressed her joy and relief at the decision, which she had been awaiting since 2019 when she appealed her sentence. She emphasized her commitment to fighting for voting rights to prevent others from enduring similar challenges.
Voting rights activists highlighted disparities in sentencing between Mason, a Black woman, and White defendants in similar voter fraud cases. The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office acknowledged that Mason should have been aware of her ineligibility to vote, citing a letter sent to her home and a warning on the provisional ballot. Mason explained that she did not receive the letter as it was sent during her incarceration and did not notice the warning on the ballot.
The court concluded that the evidence did not prove Mason knowingly voted illegally. The American Civil Liberties Union, which supported Mason's case, hailed the decision as a victory for protecting individuals from facing severe consequences for unintentional mistakes while exercising their right to vote.
Crystal Mason's acquittal serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding voting rights and ensuring fair treatment for all individuals in the electoral process.
