,
10 tweets,
5 min read
Read on Twitter
1/ Crystal Mason's ballot was never counted. Will she still serve five years in prison for illegally voting?
Her lawyers say if her sentence stands, it could discourage low-information voters from going to the polls at all.
#txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
Her lawyers say if her sentence stands, it could discourage low-information voters from going to the polls at all.
#txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
2/ Crystal Mason was months out of federal prison on supervised release, working full-time at Santander Bank in downtown Dallas and enrolled in night classes at Ogle Beauty School when she went to vote on Election Day in 2016. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
3/ She was surprised to learn that her name wasn’t on the roll.
On the advice of a poll worker, she cast a provisional ballot instead.
A month later, she learned that her ballot had been rejected, and a few months after that, she was arrested. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
On the advice of a poll worker, she cast a provisional ballot instead.
A month later, she learned that her ballot had been rejected, and a few months after that, she was arrested. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
4/ Prosecutors argued she had knowingly violated a law preventing felons from voting before completing their sentences.
Mason insisted she had no idea officials considered her ineligible — and would never have risked her freedom if she had. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
Mason insisted she had no idea officials considered her ineligible — and would never have risked her freedom if she had. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
5/ For “illegally voting,” Mason was sentenced to five years in prison.
Now, as her lawyers attempt to persuade a Fort Worth appeals court to overturn that sentence, the question is whether she voted at all. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
Now, as her lawyers attempt to persuade a Fort Worth appeals court to overturn that sentence, the question is whether she voted at all. #txlege bit.ly/308LrBa
6/ Provisional ballots are intended to serve as an electoral safe harbor, allowing a person to record her vote even amid questions about her eligibility.
In 2016, more than 66,000 provisional ballots were cast in Texas. Most were rejected. bit.ly/308LrBa
In 2016, more than 66,000 provisional ballots were cast in Texas. Most were rejected. bit.ly/308LrBa
7/ In Tarrant County, where Mason lives, nearly 4,500 provisional ballots were cast in 2016.
3,990 were rejected.
But Mason was the only one who faced criminal prosecution. bit.ly/308LrBa
3,990 were rejected.
But Mason was the only one who faced criminal prosecution. bit.ly/308LrBa
8/ In fact, Mason’s lawyers say this is the first known instance of an individual facing criminal charges for casting a ballot that ultimately didn’t count. bit.ly/308LrBa
9/ Her case, now pending before an all-Republican appeals panel, is about not just her freedom, but about the role and risks of the provisional ballot itself. bit.ly/308LrBa
10/10 Voting rights advocates fear the case could foster enough doubt among low-information voters that they’ll be discouraged from heading to the polls. bit.ly/308LrBa
