Case of Crystal Mason “My Day” The Face of Voter Suppression

The Face of Voter Suppression

How can you be charged with illegally voting when you did not vote?

Further, how can you be incarcerated for making a “mistake” casting a vote?  What is a provisional ballot? Does a provisional ballot constitute a vote? How did the term “intentionally voted illegally” become the elephant-in-the -room in the Case of Crystal Mason? 

I am part of the international outrage surrounding The Case of Crystal Mason, the 45 year old African American Mother who did not know as a convicted felon in Texas she could not vote until the supervised release was complete. Ms. Mason is now the face of recognized voter suppression in America and especially in Texas.  Texas is a “voter suppression state” as we all know.  As a native Texas from a small southern Texas town, I have heard this label since I was a child.

I spoke to Ms. Mason last week.   She believes in the power- of-the -vote and is still speaking out to others in Texas communities and beyond to exercise “your power to vote”, even though she cannot vote in this upcoming election.  But you can vote for her. Ms. Mason is a business owner and has appealed to Gov. Abbott for a pardon.

After our conversation and while arranging  my notes, I could not get pass the timeline we discussed.  One of my questions was  give me an idea of your day the day you attempted to vote.  Ms. Mason was really articulate in her deliberate answer to this question. As the Mother of three, a grandmother and the care of three additional children, she was  fully acquainted with routine, schedules, chores, multitasking… an array of expectations running a household with children. I read this someplace; “when we examine the opinion of men, we find that nothing is more uncommon than common sense. Some lack judgment to plain truths and the ability to reject absurdities”.   Ms. Mason started the answer to this question with a blessing to be working at this time.  Her day started at 5:30 AM, by 7:30 AM, “I am at work.  Got off from work at 4:30PM”, and the dialogue continued. I got the true grit sense that Ms. Mason view voting as the duty of all responsible Americans in our amazing new world.  As a convicted felon, she had fulfilled the requirements and all conditions of her crime, and even took advantage of the time spent incarcerated to study and go back to school. She now, today faces the charge of intent to vote illegally, when she was never told about the many arteries designed to suppress her vote, nor was the vote counted.

That is the bottom line. This case has insufficient common sense.

Lawmakers, lobbyists  and the legal world forget the many tasks related to those Americans households that make less than $100,000 a year. These are the homes, neighborhoods  without chauffeurs, senior assistants, someone to drop off, pick up, feed the children, then master homework, clothes to wash for the next day, lunches, and don’t forget the dishes. Ms. Mason had responsibility for several minors every day. Her day did not permit her to vote in the AM, only between 6PM and 7PM alone with millions of other Americans.  Ms. Mason’s responsible duties that weekday were all a success, not a mistake or intent to vote illegally.  The ‘mistake’ is caused by an incompetence, overwhelmed system that repeatedly goes unattended.

As a veteran writer for decades, I have interviewed numerous convicted felons, in and out of the State of Texas,  who are now contributing members to society.  We have in our society non felons in C-Suites, with antiquated voter registration practices, unscruptious mindsets and the desire to add more “faces to voter suppression”. We want to join Crystal Mason in her quest for a pardon from  the Texas Governor  and for your VOTE . . .  as quickly as possible.

Esterdavis2000@gmail.com