Massachusetts
Massachusetts Supreme Court Rejects GOP Challenge, Green-Lights Mail-In Voting
The very best courtroom in Massachusetts threw out a problem on July 11 to absentee voting guidelines introduced by state Republicans, a transfer that enables voters to submit mail-in ballots within the September major election with out having to supply an excuse.
A short unsigned order signifies the courtroom will launch a “full opinion explaining the courtroom’s reasoning” in “due course.”
Republicans had argued that the state’s VOTES Act, which Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed into regulation final month, was unconstitutional as a result of the measure wanted to be accredited by voters. The occasion additionally argued that making no-excuse voting-by-mail and early voting everlasting within the state was a foul thought as a result of the insurance policies improve the probability of fraud.
After the measure, which made short-term relaxations of voting guidelines enacted on the top of the pandemic everlasting, was signed, state officers reportedly started on the brink of mail out greater than 4.7 million poll purposes to voters for the upcoming major.
GOP lawyer Michael Walsh informed the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom final week that the Massachusetts Legislature went out-of-bounds when it made early voting and voting-by-mail the brand new regular within the state, The Eagle-Tribune reported on the time.
Walsh referenced a 1917 modification to the Massachusetts Structure that stated voters ought to solely be allowed to solid mail or absentee ballots if they’re disabled, away from house on Election Day, or possess spiritual objections to voting in particular person.
“Due to this fact, we assert that any form of absentee or mail-in voting should comply [with constitutional articles] or else they’re on their face exterior of the authority of the Legislature,” the lawyer informed the courtroom.
Two plaintiffs within the lawsuit, Jim Lyons, who’s chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Occasion, and Rayla Campbell, the occasion’s candidate for secretary of state, stated they’d promptly ask the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to evaluation the ruling within the hope that the federal judiciary would “present aid to stop a constitutional travesty,” in line with MassLive.
However liberal teams praised the brand new ruling.
“As we speak’s resolution by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom signifies that voters will be capable of depend on the provisions of the VOTES Act within the upcoming elections,” Geoff Foster, govt director of Widespread Trigger Massachusetts, stated in line with the Related Press.
“It is a massive win for voting rights in Massachusetts,” he added.
Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, stated after the ruling that the state will start printing poll purposes without delay.
“The presses are actually rolling. We wish to get the ballots executed, and due to this fact the presses are rolling to place out the purposes,” Galvin reportedly stated at a presser on Beacon Hill.
“We’ve queued up every little thing we have to do. We anticipate the presses to be rolling starting as we speak. It’s an enormous mailing. It’s in extra of 4 million items. We’ve been in touch with the Postal Service. We all know they’ve their very own points. They’ve been very candid with us as to the challenges that they confront.”
Massachusetts
What’s open and closed in Massachusetts on Christmas Day?
It’s Christmas Day! Time to open presents, be with loved ones and celebrate the beauty of giving. Even on Christmas, there are still a few places you can go for last-minute provisions. But can you go to the bank or post office or catch a bus?
Here’s what is open and closed on Dec. 25, 2024.
Government
City and town offices: Closed
State offices: Closed
Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
State and local courts: Closed
Federal courts: Closed
Finance
Banks: Closed. Most ATMs will remain open.
Stock market: Both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Liquor stores: Open
Cannabis dispensaries: Massachusetts regulators don’t identify specific holidays when cannabis dispensaries must close, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. It’s up to the respective cannabis store as to whether they choose to be open or closed on Christmas Day.
Convenience stores and gas stations
Gas stations are allowed to be open on holidays, according to Massachusetts labor laws.
The following gas stations and adjoining convenience stores should be open on Christmas:
- BP
- Citgo
- Circle K
- Cumberland Farms
- Exxon Mobil
- Gulf
- Irving Oil
- Neon Marketplace
- Season’s Corner Market
- Sunoco
- Shell
- Speedway
- 7-Eleven
Shopping
Auburn Mall: Closed
Holyoke Mall: Closed
Hampshire Mall: Closed
Eastfield Mall: Closed
Natick Mall: Closed
Big Y: Closed
Stop & Shop: Closed
Market Basket: Closed
Price Rite: Closed
Star Market: Closed
Walmart: Closed
Target: Closed
Wegmans: Closed
Safeway: Open
Costco: Closed
CVS: Open
Walgreens: Closed
Aldi: Closed
Whole Foods: Closed
Trader Joe’s: Closed
Parcel services
Post offices: Closed
FedEx: Closed
UPS: Closed
Transportation
Lowell RTA: Lowell RTA will be closed
MBTA: Subway, bus and The RIDE will run on a Sunday schedule. Meanwhile, the Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule.
Merrimack Valley RTA: Buses won’t be running
MetroWest RTA: Buses won’t be running
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority: Buses won’t be running
Worcester RTA: Buses won’t be running
Massachusetts
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts ‘belligerent’ woman allegedly assaults off-duty police officer in road rage incident
An off-duty police sergeant was allegedly assaulted by a “belligerent” woman during a road rage incident in the days before Christmas, police said.
Randolph woman Vashiyra Mason, 20, was arrested and charged by Stoughton Police after allegedly striking the off-duty cop’s vehicle and assaulting him.
Stoughton police officers responded to the area of 278 Washington St. for a report of a disturbance on Sunday at about 1:06 p.m.
An off-duty Stoughton police sergeant had called the station and reported that he was following a vehicle that side-swiped his car and left the scene.
Mason had allegedly driven into the oncoming traffic lane and around the off-duty officer’s vehicle on Pine Street, and side-swiped the front of his car. Mason later stopped in a parking lot, where the off-duty officer followed her.
“In the parking lot, the off-duty officer identified himself multiple times as a Stoughton Police sergeant in an attempt to de-escalate the situation,” police wrote about the incident. “Mason became belligerent, using slurs and hitting the off-duty officer in the upper body, neck, and face area.”
The off-duty officer then reportedly restrained Mason to prevent her from injuring him or herself.
The passenger of Mason’s car, a 19-year-old Brockton woman, then allegedly hit the off-duty officer in the back of his head and neck. The passenger also began to attack a woman who was with the off-duty officer.
Officers arrived shortly after, and saw Mason hitting the woman who was with the off-duty officer. Mason allegedly grabbed the woman by her hair, and punched her in the back of the head multiple times.
Mason was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
Mason’s passenger will be issued a summons to appear in Stoughton District Court on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, and resisting arrest. Because the suspect is being summonsed and the court has not issued a criminal complaint, her identity cannot be released.
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