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Page 8 ~ THE VILLAGER/September 20, 2019 THE DISPATCH www.theaustinvillager.com Murky law does not distinguish Federal “supervised release” versus State “supervision” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 questions — did a per- ments enacted in the path for prosecu- son vote (illegally or oth- name of protecting the tors to criminally pursue erwise) if her vote didn’t election process from other provisional ballot- count? — but the deci- voter fraud. The mod- casters. sion, expected in the ern-day crackdown — “There are a lot of coming months, will fueled by unsubstanti- people who have ques- mark an important mile- ated concerns over ram- tions about whether stone in the state’s pant illegal voting — led they can vote or where battle over the ballot. with a strict 2011 voter they can vote,” said Most provisional ID law that was softened Andre Segura, legal di- ballots are rejected for after a federal judge ex- rector of the American ineligibility; even those pressed concerns that it Civil Liberties Union of that are accepted are disenfranchised voters Texas. “You want all of not usually counted un- of color. those people to feel less an election is par- Amid failed efforts comfortable going in Crystal Mason ticularly close. But to impose tighter voting and submitting a provi- Mason’s advocates fear restrictions and to scour sional ballot.” "I feel like God has a purpose for everyone," Crystal Mason says, that her case could im- the voter rolls for sup- Mason, a highly pri- and that hers might be educating others about voting rights. Leslie peril the tens of thou- posed noncitizens, at- vate person who has Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune sands of other Texans tention has more re- been forced into the po- who submit provisional cently turned to a hand- sition of public example, their eligibility — either mistakes,” said Sam Jor- release” lines up with ballots every election ful of high-profile pros- has become a Rorschach because of mistakes by dan, a communications “supervision” under that year. ecutions of people of test in the state’s fight local election officials or officer for the district law, Mason’s lawyers “What we’re faced color. over voting rights. confusion about attorney’s office. “The say. with here is criminalizing Before Mason, who To her advocates, whether they are regis- difference is in the in- Since Mason’s case that behavior,” said Beth is black, there was Rosa Mason is a victim of tered to vote — would tent.” arose, she and her law- Stevens, voting rights Maria Ortega, a legal voter suppression in a not be turned away from But who decides yers say, parole officers program director at the permanent resident also state where, federal the polls. whether a ballot was an in North Texas have be- Texas Civil Rights Project. living in Tarrant County judges have ruled, GOP Federal law laid out honest mistake? gun distributing a form “And the state’s inter- who was convicted of officials have a long his- a simple safeguard Mason’s conviction to their charges clarify- pretation of the illegal voter fraud after at- tory of infringing on the through provisional vot- hinged on an affidavit ing that they are ineli- voting statute would tempting to register to voting rights of people of ing: If you’re not sure, she had signed before gible to vote while on necessarily make all of vote despite not being a color. To hawks intent on cast a provisional ballot; casting her provisional supervised release. those people — thou- citizen. Ortega — who preserving the integrity if you’re not eligible, it ballot. At her trial, the (Questions about the sands of people across did not realize her immi- of the ballot, Mason is a won’t count in the elec- judge convicted her of form to the Northern the state of Texas — vul- gration status meant she criminal who was caught tion. voting illegally after he District of Texas, which nerable to prosecution.” was ineligible — cast bal- before her crime could That was the proce- heard testimony from a oversees that system, As a mother and lots that counted in sev- have an impact. To Ma- dure Mason followed in poll worker who said he went unanswered.) grandmother who raised eral elections. son, her story is one of 2016, her lawyers argue, had watched Mason The irony is not lost her brother’s children as When Ortega was countless missed oppor- and that’s where her read and run her finger on Mason, who received well as her own, Mason sentenced to eight years tunities, of a system she story should’ve ended. along each line of an af- that form after she was said she wouldn’t punish in prison in 2017, Texas feels could have edu- In a courthouse in fidavit that required in- released this year. If it’s someone who did some- Attorney General Ken cated her at several criti- downtown Fort Worth, dividuals to swear that so unclear, she won- thing wrong without in- Paxton — whose office cal points but instead Thomas Buser-Clancy, a “if a felon, I have com- dered, why wasn’t that tending to. did not respond to ques- has opted to make an Texas attorney for the pleted all my punish- notice being issued Instead, she’d edu- tions for this story — example out of her. American Civil Liberties ment including any term three years ago, when it cate: “You educate her hailed it as an outcome “I feel like God has Union, argued last week of incarceration, parole, might have helped her? on what to do, what not that “sends a message a purpose for everyone. that Mason had made an supervision, period of And if it’s so ambiguous to do,” she said. that violators of the Right now, I’m walking honest mistake that ulti- probation, or I have that clarification is re- It was Mason’s state’s election law will my purpose,” she said mately had no impact on been pardoned.” Mason quired, why is she being mother who encour- be prosecuted to the calmly in an interview the election. How could said she did not read prosecuted? aged her to vote that day fullest.” the night before the it be, then, that she had that side of the paper. Mason likely could in 2016 — a message she “Safeguarding the hearing. “illegally voted”? Mason was still un- have secured a shorter has pushed since Mason integrity of our elections What is that pur- Arguing for the der supervised release sentence if she had was a little girl, and has is essential to preserving pose? Tarrant County District for a federal conviction. pleaded guilty. But she spread, too, to Mason’s our democracy,” Paxton She smiled. Attorney’s Office, pros- She was indicted in 2011 didn’t want to admit to children. said in a statement at “I’m still trying to ecutor Helena Faulkner for helping clients at her a crime she did not com- “Ancestors fought the time. figure it out. Activist, I countered that “nothing tax preparation business mit, she said. Still, the for this right, marched Tarrant County think — maybe educat- in the Texas Election falsify expenses and consequences were and died for this right — prosecutors have ing on voting rights, your Code indicates that the claim exemptions they steep: The illegal voting now that it’s available brushed off concerns do’s and your don’ts,” verb ‘to vote’ has to in- were not entitled to in conviction landed her for us, we should utilize the Mason case could she said. clude or only includes a order to lower their tax back in federal prison for it,” Mason recalled. “You lead to voter suppres- “An untested appli- vote that was tallied in bills. months, and she was re- can’t complain about sion. “The fact that this cation of the illegal vot- the final election.” Her lawyers argue leased into a halfway anything if we don’t try case is so unique should ing statute” The law, she ar- that the law is murky. house in May of this to exercise that right.” emphasize why this case When Congress gued, should not protect Texas law allows con- year. Last week, in addi- Before the hearing should in no way have a created provisional bal- those who intentionally victed felons to vote tion to her high-stakes began, Mason’s pastor ‘chilling effect’ on any- lots through the Help vote illegally. But pros- once they’ve completed hearing, she was navi- led her attorneys and a one except people who America Vote Act of ecutors would not use it their “sentence,” includ- gating her first week at group of her family knowingly vote illegally,” 2002, it envisioned that to penalize those who ing any “parole or super- a new job. members, too many of Jordan said. prospective voters fac- make honest mistakes. vision.” But it’s not clear Her appeal turns them to fit in one eleva- But during the ing questions about “People can make that federal “supervised instead on narrow legal tor, in prayer outside the 2019 legislative session, courtroom. some Republican law- The case is “not just makers pushed to erase TEXAS LONGHORNS DALLAS COWBOYS for Crystal, but mostly Mason’s legal defense (2-1) (2-0) for justice,” said the Rev. for future defendants by Frederick Haynes of making it easier to pros- Friendship-West Baptist ecute people who cast Church in Dallas as the ballots without realizing others stood, eyes they’re ineligible. closed, holding hands, in Currently, to com- a circle.

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