The Norwood Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to take no action on a proposal to opt out of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's vote-by-mail program for the town's upcoming annual election. The decision followed a public hearing required under Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 54, section 25B.

Town Clerk Mary Lou Folan told the board that the town last year mailed ballot applications to every voter after the state covered the mailing cost. She said the town mailed about 3,368 applications in 2024, spent roughly $2,323 to mail returned ballots, and received about 1,244 returned ballots. "If we were to do that again this year, approximately the cost would probably be around $16,000 if we did mail out 1 to every single voter in the town," Folan said during the hearing.

Why it matters: the hearing asked whether Norwood should formally opt out of the state'run vote-by-mail option for the local election, which would change how ballots and ballot applications are distributed and could affect costs and voter access. Board members and residents debated trade-offs including expense, turnout and possible confusion among voters.

At the hearing the clerk gave procedural details: absentee ballots remain available (in person at the clerk's office through 4 p.m. the Friday before the election) and ballots requested by mail must be mailed five days before Election Day. Folan said the town would need to notify the state 45 days before the election to effect an opt-out.

During public comment resident Steve Conacci asked whether people who received mailed ballots but did not return them still voted in person; Folan said some residents used mailed ballots as a backup and then voted in person. Selectmen referenced turnout figures cited by the clerk: the town's local-election turnout has been in the low teens in recent years, and the board discussed whether mailed ballots increased turnout enough to justify the expense.

Board discussion emphasized consistency and clarity for voters. Selectman Plasco said he worried about confusion if the town changed procedures from year to year and that opting in or out every other year would be destabilizing. Several members urged more outreach to make residents aware of absentee options if the town did not mail ballots universally.

The board's motion, recorded as "take no action" on the opt-out proposal, passed on a roll-call vote with all five members present voting in favor. The board did not file an opt-out with the state at the meeting.

The clerk and staff said they will continue to provide absentee ballot services and voter information and that the board may revisit the opt-out question in future years; if the board chooses to opt out later it will have to hold the required hearing and notify the state within the statutory timeframe.