Shirley’s 2026 town election drew just 6.56% turnout, and one race ended in a tie
Shirley’s May 5 town election drew only 6.56% turnout, down from 11.20% in 2025, and the constable race finished with a 5-5 tie.
Shirley’s annual town election on May 5 drew a small share of local voters, with official results showing turnout at 6.56%. That was a sharp drop from 11.20% in the town’s 2025 annual election, according to Shirley’s election records.
Most of the races on the ballot were decided without dispute, but the constable contest ended in an exact tie. The official tally shows two candidates each received five votes, and the town’s results do not list a final winner for that race.
What the official results showed
The town’s 2026 results page identifies the winners in the other contested offices and confirms that the election was completed on May 5. Shirley’s election information page also places the annual town election in the town’s regular local election calendar, which is the main municipal vote many residents use to choose town officers.
The low turnout is the most striking number in the results. At 6.56%, participation was down from the prior year’s 11.20%, meaning fewer than 7 out of every 100 eligible voters took part in deciding local offices.
For residents, that matters because town elections often shape decisions that reach into everyday issues such as services, budgets, local policy, and the people responsible for carrying out town business. When turnout is this low, a small number of ballots can decide who holds local office.
The constable race remains unresolved in the tally
The only race that appears unsettled in the official results is constable. The town’s tally shows a tie at five votes apiece, with no declared winner listed in the results document.
That leaves an open question about whether Shirley will use a follow-up local process to resolve the tie or whether the town will issue additional official guidance. As of the posted results, the race remains undecided on the town’s record.
Why the turnout drop stands out
Turnout in a town election is usually lower than in a presidential or statewide election, but the drop from 11.20% in 2025 to 6.56% in 2026 suggests even fewer Shirley residents engaged in this year’s local vote.
That does not change the validity of the election results, but it does mean decisions were made by a very small slice of the electorate. For homeowners, renters, workers, parents, and business owners, that can translate into less direct participation in the local government choices that affect daily life.
Residents watching the tied constable race should look for any further official action from the town. For now, Shirley’s posted results settle most offices, but not all of them.
