Hey Thewy! Thank you for the comment!
Since the Crocs load up into the setlist in evening, and other players add cards to vote in the setlist, all the cards of the chosen column go INTO the ticket stack for actions on the BEGINNING of the Crocs next turn.
The punitive mechanism only really takes cards away from them IF they have unspent actions from previous turns, since that's the only time during other players turns where there's things in the ticket stack. Think like the otters losing a tradepost! It says there that they only lose cards from the "ticket stack".
Sorry if this wasn't made clear in the faction board! I'm so glad you like the faction, and if you do play with them please let me know how it goes!