This is where the story takes a turn for the worse. Given the conditions of her release, she was not yet given the right to vote. This illegal (and unsuccessful) attempt by her to participate in the election resulted in her being sentenced to an additional five years in prison for voter fraud. Crystal Mason’s life was not a story of redemption with a happy ending, but a cautionary tale.
Was this a breakdown in democracy or a sign of alarmism? Mason misunderstood his eligibility and tried to vote before he was legally allowed to. Supporters of her prosecution argue that it doesn’t matter that she didn’t know she was breaking the law. For them, defending democracy means vigorous gatekeeping. Others see it differently. They believe that protecting democracy means encouraging participation, facilitating easy access, and fostering honest engagement. Honest mistakes by civic-minded citizens require education and clarification, not punishment.
Additionally, state and local election laws vary widely, so mistakes are inevitable. Nearly half of states have recently passed laws that make it easier to vote, simplifying things like registration and absentee voting. Other states have passed restrictive laws, including changing ID requirements, canceling registrations and closing polling places. Some criminalize everyday activities, such as helping voters prepare mail-in ballots or offering water to people in line.
For most people, it’s impossible to catch up. It’s dizzying even for experts. Michigan expanded the number of acceptable forms of voter ID, while Ohio and Kentucky no longer accept state-issued college IDs. Alabama is defying the Supreme Court’s gerrymandering ruling, and Texas is increasing voting rights for non-elected offices. Maine and Vermont allow people in prison to vote, while Florida created an election police force that showed up at 3 a.m. to arrest a 69-year-old woman and hold a man at gunpoint. Their crime? After serving time in prison, fill out an unsolicited voter registration card. They didn’t know it was against the law, and apparently neither did the state, who sent them voter registration cards before showing up at their home years later, wearing bulletproof vests and handcuffs.
Two Americas emerge from this patchwork. The destinies of each Mason could not be more different. In one, a glass slipper will fit. She is a free woman who has paid her debt to society and has a voice and the right to vote. In the other case, she’s the villain and she should be locked up for more time.
What kind of America do we aspire to become?
The key is whether you choose to err on the side of access or prioritize scrutiny and penalties. In reality, “election integrity” appears to be nothing more than a euphemism for voter suppression. Because restricting access to the ballot will most severely impact people of color, poor people, and voters who have been temporarily disenfranchised by mistakes.
Court proceedings and right-wing strategist memos provide damning evidence that these voting restriction measures are an insidious attempt to secure permanent electoral advantage by diminishing Black voting power. There is. Supporters of these laws argue that they do not suppress voting and point to relatively high voter turnout in recent elections. But these results are evidence of ongoing voter education and mobilization campaigns led by those who have misplaced access to voters.
People’s civic spirit can sometimes trump bad partisan laws and policies. That is when democracy is best protected. It’s most special for people like Mason, formerly incarcerated Black women. The three people our democracy has fought hardest to exclude can have their place back in it. The most distorting situation is when an unintentional mistake sends a would-be voter to prison.
Even elementary school students can tell the difference. A few years ago, I told Mason’s story to a group of young girls attending a civics education workshop in South Orange, New Jersey. They were middle school students and black people full of optimism and energy, listening intently with curious eyes tracking the twists and turns of the story. When things went south, they were outraged. “But she didn’t know!” That’s not true! Fascinated by her story, they began to focus on the action. “Where was she now?” Who is helping her? Is this how democracy works?
Six years have passed since Mason’s conviction, and an appeal continues. The state of Texas is deciding her fate. She was dragged back into the system, and at first she vowed never to vote again. But years of legal impasse have transformed her into a champion of democracy. “I was called to this fight for voting rights, and I will continue to serve my community,” she declared, while also warning, “Please learn from my story.” Maybe it’s not a fairy tale ending, but the glass slipper is the ending that suits her after all.