MA Mail-In, Early Voting Expansion In New Proposal: Patch PM

BRAINTREE, MA — It's Tuesday, Feb. 9. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• When it comes to voting, was 2020 the new normal? Mail-in voting and expanded early voting, as well as same-day voter registration, could soon be permanent in Massachusetts.
• Andrew Lelling’s days as the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts are reportedly numbered now that President Biden is in office — but changing federal prosecutors is typical when there’s a party change in the White House.
• A police chief has been placed on leave following an allegation that he misused his authority.

Scroll down for those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Monday’s Top Story

Secretary of State William Galvin could be close to putting his stamp on voting in Massachusetts.
Galvin announced Tuesday he will introduce legislation that would make permanent mail-in voting and expanded early voting — measures put in place during the pandemic — as well as allowing for same-day voter registration and early voting in local elections.

The pandemic changes worked: A record 3,657,972 voted in November, with more than 1.5 million of those voting by mail and 844,000 early in-person.

"What we saw last year was that voting by mail was enormously popular," Galvin said in a statement. "While voting by mail may not always be used to the same extent at the pandemic finally ends, my office has heard from many voters who have made it clear that they want this option to remain available for all future elections."

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Today’s Other Top Stories In Massachusetts

Biden To Ask Lelling To Resign: U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling is among the federal prosecutors the Biden administration will ask to step down as early as Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The new president is asking nearly all prosecutors appointed by his predecessor to resign, save for a handful currently working sensitive cases, in a changeover that typically occurs when a new party wins the White House.

Police chief put on leave: Milford Police Chief Michael Pighetti was placed on administrative leave on Monday night by the Select Board while the town investigates an allegation he misused his police powers, according to town officials. According to WBZ, the town is investigating whether Pighetti pulled over a driver and ordered officers to give them a ticket. The Select Board met in executive session on Monday to discuss "complaints concerning an employee" — but the agenda did not refer to Pighetti by name.

Search for missing boy continues: State police returned to the icy Connecticut River on Tuesday to continue their search for an 11-year-old boy who was last seen walking toward a boat launch on Friday morning. Aiden Blanchard was last seen just before noon Friday along Old Field Road in Chicopee's Willimansett neighborhood. State police believe he was headed for a boat launch at the end of Medina Street. Local and state police have been out searching for the boy ever since, using boats, drones and divers to comb the Connecticut and Chicopee rivers. Police do not believe Blanchard was the victim of a crime.

By The Numbers

6: That’s how many feet of social distancing is recommended — and one superintendent is taking it as just that, a recommendation. Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey says it gives the district flexibility to consider lowering that distance inside schools to allow for additional students in classrooms at the same time.

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