Texas Man Mistakenly Voted While On Parole, Facing 40 Years In Prison

A Texas man who waited more than six hours at a Houston polling center last year is now charged with two counts of illegal voting. 

Hervis Earl Rogers, 62, didn’t realize he was doing anything wrong when he voted in the November 6, 2018, general election and again in the Democratic primary in March 2020. But according to a June 24 indictment, he was ineligible to vote while being on felony parole.

Rogers was convicted of felony burglary charges in 1989 and 1995. In Texas, felons are only allowed to vote once they complete their sentence and are no longer on post-release supervision. 

Now, Rogers is facing two felony illegal voting charges and 40 years in prison.

Andre Segura, part of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, representing Rogers, told CNN that Rogers believed he could vote. Otherwise, why else would he have stood in line for so long? The ACLU Texas is now looking into Rogers’ status at the time he voted.

“That’s why he went and stood in line for almost seven hours and spoke to CNN about it. He felt he was doing the right thing,” Segura told the outlet. “Where’s the evidence he knew or intended to vote illegally?”

Rogers was arrested Wednesday and booked into Montgomery County Jail. Fortunately, the Bail Project posted his $100,000 bail, and he won’t have to sit in jail while his case plays out. 

BREAKING: Hervis Rogers, who is accused of voting while on parole, was just released from jail on $100,000 bail.

His story is infuriating — and reveals what’s at stake as Texas lawmakers work to suppress voting rights and enrich the cash bail industry. pic.twitter.com/UMogNYrwOs

— ACLU of Texas (@ACLUTx) July 10, 2021