Texas woman sentenced to five years in prison for illegally voting in 2016 election

Convicted felons lose their voting rights in Texas until they complete their full sentences, including parole and probation.

Mason reportedly told the court, however, that she was not aware of that prohibition and had not been informed that she was ineligible to vote until her sentence was complete.

“She voted in good faith,” Mason’s defense attorney J. Warren St. John said in an interview. “I don’t think she should be going to prison for that.” Her attorney has already filed an appeal. “I think Texas law is extreme in terms of sentencing people to prison for voting violations,” he said.