Norfolk’s Annual Town Election is set for Tuesday, May 5, and several races will give voters a genuine choice. Town Clerk Carol Greene, who provided information for this article, encourages residents to take advantage of early voting options — more on those below.

Contested Races

The Select Board will see a head-to-head contest this spring. With one seat open, incumbent Anita Mecklenburg faces a challenge from Cathy Brown. (A third candidate, Shawn McGrath, pulled papers but has since withdrawn from the race.)

The Recreation Commission also has two open seats with three candidates in the running — incumbent Alex Perry, along with Mark Bykowski and Lauren Sager — so voters will again choose two.

Uncontested Races

The remaining positions on the ballot have a single candidate each. Patricia Salamone is running for re-election to the Board of Assessors, John Bowman is seeking re-election to the Board of Health, and incumbent Paul Terrio is the sole candidate for Constable. Susan Jacobson is running for a five-year term on the Housing Authority. Jim Lehan is running for re-election to the King Philip Regional School Committee. 

Two Norfolk School Committee seats are open with incumbent Lauren Vives and Birch Duggins-Warf running.  (Lindsay Semas, a third candidate, withdrew). The two Planning Board seats are uncontested, with incumbent Melissa Meo and Allary Braitsch each running for one. And Carol Greene is running for re-election as Town Clerk.

How and When to Vote

Election day is Tuesday, May 5. All election day voting is held at the Freeman-Kennedy School, 70 Boardman Street.

Town Clerk Greene particularly encourages voters with limited time on Election Day to take advantage of in-person early voting, which is available at Town Hall, 1 Liberty Lane, in the Town Clerk’s Office on the ground floor. Early voting runs from Friday, April 24 through Thursday, April 30, with the following hours: Friday April 24, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday April 25, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Monday April 27, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Tuesday April 28, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Wednesday April 29, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Thursday April 30, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Residents who have requested a mail ballot may return it by mail or by using the secure drop box at the back entrance to Town Hall, which is under 24-hour video monitoring. Mail ballots must reach the Town Clerk’s office by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted.

For voter registration information and additional election resources, visit norfolkmass.gov/departments/town_clerk/election_resources.php.

Candidate information was accurate at press time, but additional changes may occur before the final ballot is set.