Houston man arrested for alleged voter fraud as Republicans work to implement stricter voting laws

(HOUSTON) Hervis Rogers was the last person to cast his vote on Super Tuesday in 2020 and went viral on social media as he was applauded for his dedication.

Over a year later, Rogers was charged with voter fraud and held on $100,000 bail. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading the prosecution of the 62-year-old man who believed that he was eligible to vote at the time.

“Mr. Hervis’s situation is a textbook example of how these systems intersect to undermine our fundamental rights and target minorities,” said Robin Steinberg, founder of The Bail Project, a national nonprofit that paid for Rogers’ release.

“In their fevered desire to suppress the turnout of people of color, the Texas Attorney General has engaged in political theatre, while using the bail system to send a targeted message of fear,” Steinberg said.

Rogers was sentenced to 25 years in prison for burglary and intent to commit theft in 1995. After serving nine years, he was released on parole that was set to end June of 2020.

Because Rogers cast his vote in March, he was likely not eligible to vote at the time. His lawyers are arguing that he did not knowingly commit voter fraud at the time, citing his determination to wait in line for six hours and speak to cable newscasters.

Carla Reed and Hervis Rogers were the last two voters at Texas Southern University, after waiting in line for 6 hours.Jen Rice/Houston Public Media

“This case, for us, is about who we let the government decide to throw out like trash and who we deem worthy of the basic rights to participate in the processes we all hold dear,” his lawyer Nicole DeBorde said.

Rogers’ arrest comes as Texas Democrats protest a bill meant to increase election security.

“You know, this guy thought he could vote,” said state Sen. Borris Miles of Houston, holding a photo of Rogers during a Senate committee hearing on the legislation. “He was under the belief in his mind that he really could. Served his time, got a nice job, nice family, now, thought he could vote, just thought he was doing his civic duty.”

The bill, which would ban drive-through voting, limit 24-hour voting options and implement new identification requirements for absentee ballots, was passed in the state senate.

Republicans say the bill is aimed at making it “easier to vote and harder to cheat.”

Democrats and voting rights advocates believe the bill will disproportionately impact people of color and people with disabilities. Last week, over 50 house Democrats fled to Washington, D.C. to protest.

“Republicans have broken their promise to our seniors and the disabled by making it harder to vote, and also making it harder for Latino and African Americans,” Sen. Carol Alvarado, one of the Democrats who fled, said at the news conference Wednesday.

If Democrats do not return before the 30-day special session called by Gov. Gref Abbott ends, the legislation could die.

In D.C., they are pressuring Congress to pass legislation like the For The People Act to protect voting rights.

“We are here to implore Congress to pass sweeping voting rights legislation. We heard from over 400 constituents back in Texas who came to testify about the elections bill,” said Rep. Vikki Goodwin at the news conference. “Their stories fell on deaf ears among the Republicans. Please don’t let our pleas fall on deaf ears here in Congress.”

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