Greater Nashua

HUDSON - Grace Gato, 44, of Hudson, is facing the possibility of a $5,000 civil penalty for allegedly using the name of her deceased mother to request an absentee ballot for the 2024 general election. According to the Supporting Affidavit, Cristina Ostrowski, an investigator for the state Department of Justice, stated that on Oct. 21, 2024, Town Clerk Michelle Brewster received a letter indicating that Gato might attempt to request an absentee ballot. The letter included two posts from Gato’s X account. The first post, dated Oct. 12, 2024, read: “My mom is a WWII baby who is going to miss WWIII. She made sure she voted absentee ballot while in hospice care. I just have to mail it.” On Oct. 16, Gato posted: “My mother passed away last night.” Later on Oct. 21, Gato went to the Town Hall to deliver the application for an absentee ballot. The application listed ...