Texas's top criminal court lets Crystal Mason's voting-fraud acquittal stand
A 5-4 ruling ends a decade-long prosecution of a Black Texas woman over a provisional ballot that was never even counted.
What to know
- Texas's highest criminal court voted 5-4 to dismiss a prosecutor's appeal, ending nearly a decade of litigation and letting Crystal Mason's acquittal stand.
- Mason was originally sentenced to five years in prison for casting a provisional ballot in 2016 that was never even counted, while on supervised release for a tax felony.
- The court did not explain its decision; four of the nine Republican judges filed dissenting opinions.
- The Tarrant County DA maintains illegal voting remains prosecutable, signaling the underlying legal dispute over intent in provisional-ballot cases is not resolved.
“Civic participation without fear of imprisonment is a cherished right that is critical to our system of democracy. The highest criminal court in Texas affirmed that right by letting the lower court's acquittal stand.”
Thomas Buser-Clancy, ACLU of Texas attorney · The Guardian ↗ · Sep 23
Crystal Mason Fort Worth woman prosecuted for illegal votingPhil Sorrells Tarrant County District AttorneyThomas Buser-Clancy ACLU of Texas attorney
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Tarrant County DA and ACLU offer competing takeaways
District Attorney Phil Sorrells stressed that illegal voting remains prosecutable in Tarrant County, while ACLU of Texas attorney Thomas Buser-Clancy called the outcome an affirmation of the right to civic participation without fear of imprisonment.
“Illegal voting remains a crime in Texas.”
— Phil Sorrells -
first by TheGrio, 7d ago · also FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, Election Law Blog, CBS News, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, The 19th, The Texas Tribune
5 more headlines
- Court leaves Crystal Mason's illegal voting acquittal in place FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth · 7d ago
- On a 5-4 Vote, Texas's Highest Criminal Court Dismisses State Appeal in Crystal Mason Illegal Voting Case Election Law Blog · 7d ago
- Texas court vacates Crystal Mason's illegal voting conviction, ending nearly 10-year legal battle CBS News · 7d ago
- Appeals court affirms Crystal Mason's acquittal in illegal voting case NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · 7d ago
- Crystal Mason prevails in fight over illegal voting conviction The 19th · 6d ago
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Ten god damned years. Republicans are a scourge. # Politics # VotingRights https://www. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/s ep/24/texas-court-crystal-mason-voting-case
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The nearly decade-long case of a Black Texas woman who was sentenced to five years in prison in a controversial illegal voting case will end with an acquittal, the state’s highest criminal court said in a 5-4 decision on Thursday. The woman, Crystal Mason, has been appealing against the case ever since her 2018 conviction for casting a provisional…
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The other article I saw wasn't as clear as this on the subject. Crystal Mason prevails in fight over illegal voting conviction https://www. texastribune.org/2026/09/24/cr ystal-mason-texas-court-criminal-appeals/
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Mason says her 'nightmare is over' — Mason reacted to the final ruling in a text message, describing nearly a decade of fighting the case and crediting her faith for getting her through it.
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Highest Texas criminal court dismisses the state's appeal, 5-4 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed course and voted 5-4 not to hear the prosecutor's appeal, letting the 2024 acquittal stand without offering an explanation; four of the court's nine Republican judges filed dissenting opinions.
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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals acquits Mason; state appeals — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals acquitted Mason, but the Tarrant County district attorney's office appealed that ruling to the state's highest criminal court, which initially agreed to hear the case.
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Texas convicts and sentences Mason to five years — A judge found Mason guilty of illegal voting, ruling she knew she was ineligible because she signed the ballot affidavit and had sworn its contents were true to poll workers; she was sentenced to five years in prison.
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Mason casts an uncounted provisional ballot — While on federal supervised release for a tax felony, Mason was not listed on the rolls at her Fort Worth polling place and cast a provisional ballot that was ultimately never counted.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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3 outlets 'My nightmare is over': Highest Texas criminal court upholds Crystal Mason voter fraud acquittal
first by KERA News, 7d ago · also Dallas News, Fort Worth Report
1 more headline
- Texas criminal appeals court upholds overturning Crystal Mason's conviction Dallas News · 7d ago
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first by The Guardian, 7d ago · also Guardian
1 more headline
- Texas court ends case against woman sentenced to five years over voting error Guardian US · 6d ago