‘Trapped in the past:’ How some US states restrict voting after felonies

Fort Worth, Texas – There’s an elephant in the room when Crystal Mason talks about her seemingly never-ending legal case. In the last quarter-century, approximately 26 states, plus Washington, DC, have restored the right to vote for most people with felony convictions, with some exceptions for severe crimes like murder and sexual assault. In other states, like Texas, the automatic restoration of voting rights comes with caveats — something critics blame for stirring up confusion and leading to situations like Mason’s. It’s one of those states that’s trapped in the past.” Lawyers, advocates and historians say that — because of the variation in laws and the disproportionate effects of incarceration on certain demographics — geography and race have therefore become some of the biggest factors affecting voting rights today.