BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts lawmaker who agreed to plead guilty to casting invalid absentee ballots in 2009 and 2010 has submitted his resignation letter.
State Rep. Stephen Smith submitted a letter dated Monday to the state’s top election official, Secretary William Galvin.
Galvin said Tuesday Smith’s signed letter states, “I respectfully decline to accept this office.”
Galvin says a calendar has been prepared for a special election to fill the vacancy, with a primary in March and the election in April. He says members of the state House will discuss the issue Wednesday.
Smith is a Democrat from Everett. He had previously said he would resign and not seek elected office for five years after agreeing to plead guilty in the absentee ballots case.
Federal prosecutors say he cast ballots for ineligible voters.
