In a case that has sparked outrage among voting-rights activists for years, a Texas appeals court has reversed its decision and acquitted a woman who was sentenced to five years in prison for illegally casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election.
The ruling comes after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest criminal court, determined that the lower appeals court had misinterpreted the illegal voting statute that led to Crystal Mason’s conviction in 2018.
Ms. Mason, a 49-year-old from Fort Worth, was charged with illegally voting in the 2016 election while on probation for a felony. The ballot she cast was never counted, and she claimed she was unaware of her ineligibility and was following the instructions of a poll worker.
Ms. Mason, who has been out on bond, appealed her conviction. In 2020, the Second Court of Appeals ruled that her knowledge of ineligibility was irrelevant to the case.
However, in 2022, the Court of Criminal Appeals disagreed and instructed the lower court to review the case. The prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Mason knew she was ineligible to vote.
The Second Court of Appeals reversed her conviction and acquitted her, citing insufficient evidence to prove her knowledge.
The decision was shared by the A.C.L.U. of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Ms. Mason expressed her relief in a statement, vowing to continue fighting for voting rights and highlighting the impact on minority voting rights.
Her lawyer, Thomas Buser-Clancy, hailed the victory as a triumph for democracy.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Ms. Mason, was not available for comment late Thursday.
Prosecutors argued that Ms. Mason had likely read the ballot, which outlined voter eligibility requirements, and should have known she was breaking the law.
Ms. Mason’s case has been a focal point for voting-rights activists, highlighting racial disparities in criminal voter fraud cases and the challenges faced by individuals with criminal records navigating voting laws.
