Texas court leaves Crystal Mason’s illegal-voting acquittal in place

Texas’ highest criminal court has left Crystal Mason’s acquittal in place, ending a nearly decade-long legal battle over a provisional ballot she cast in the 2016 presidential election.

In a 5-4 decision Thursday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed its earlier decision to review the case and declined to hear a local prosecutor’s appeal. The court did not explain its decision. Mason’s conviction had been overturned in 2024.

Mason, 51, was on supervised release for a federal tax felony when election workers could not find her name on the voter rolls and offered her a provisional ballot. The ballot was ultimately not counted. Texas bars people from voting while serving a felony sentence, including supervised release.

Mason maintained that she did not know she was ineligible, did not read eligibility language in an affidavit and had never been told she could not vote. Federal probation officials testified at her 2018 trial that they had not informed her of the restriction. Prosecutors argued that she knowingly affirmed her eligibility. A judge convicted her and sentenced her to five years in prison.

“After 10 long years of fighting, I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” Mason said after Thursday’s decision. Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells defended the prosecution, saying his office would investigate and prosecute knowing violations of election law when supported by evidence.