Annual Town Meeting and Election will be held on Saturday, May 9th, 2026.
All Warrant Articles and Citizen Petitions are to be submitted no later than 45 days before Annual Town Meeting (Wednesday, March 25th).
Informational Links: Date of Annual Town Meeting Bylaw, Citizen Petitions, Annual Town Meeting Warrants Bylaw.
Hard copies of the 2025 Annual Town Report will be available.
Date, Time, Location, and Voting
Shutesbury will hold our Annual Town Meeting and Town Election on Saturday, May 9. Polls will be open from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The election will be held at the same time and place as our Annual Town Meeting, at the Shutesbury Elementary School gymnasium. Note that Annual Town Meeting begins at 9am but the polls will be open half an hour before that.
To vote in Town Election and/or Town Meeting, you must be a resident of Shutesbury (see the guidance from the Secretary of the Commonwealth on what constitutes "residence" for voting purposes). You do not need to own property in Shutesbury to vote in the Town Election and/or Town Meeting; if you rent your home in Shutesbury, you are still allowed to vote here as long as you are a resident. Owning property in town does not qualify one to vote in town: one must reside at that property as one's regular home.
Sample Ballot
Click here for the sample ballot for the 2026 Town Election and here for an explanation of the ballot question.
Vote By Mail
The Town is again providing Vote By Mail (VBM) as an option for this election. Note that even if you voted by mail in past elections, the Secretary of the Commonwealth requires a new VBM application every calendar year. You can complete the VBM application online or print it out and mail it to: Shutesbury Town Clerk / P. O. Box 276 / Shutesbury, MA 01072. VBM ballots can be returned by mail using the envelopes provided with the ballot or put in the secure dropbox located next to the front driveway at Town Hall and must be received by 3:30pm on May 9.
Poll Workers Needed
Our community works best when we work together! We are looking for folks to help out with both the election and Town Meeting in a number of positions: checking voters in and out, counting Town Meeting votes, and tallying election ballots after the polls close. These positions pay $15/hour and you must be a registered voter in Shutesbury to work in them. Please sign up soon and let us know how you can help!
Key Dates for the Election & Town Meeting
April 25: Meet the Candidates Forum, 11am-12pm, at the Shutesbury Public Library.
April 29: Last possible day to register to vote in time for the local election.
April 30: Last possible day for Select Board to approve Town Meeting Warrant.
May 1: Campaign finance reports due.
May 2: Deadline to signup for free childcare during Town Meeting (9am-1pm).
May 4: Last possible day to submit a Vote By Mail application in time for the local election.
May 9: Election Day (polls open 8:30am-3:30pm) and Annual Town Meeting Day (starts at 9:00am).
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the election or need assistance, you can contact Matteo Pangallo, Interim Town Clerk/Election Administrator, by emailing [email protected] or calling 413-259-1204 or dropping by Town Hall during office hours (Mondays and Wednesdays 1pm-2pm and Fridays 10am-12pm).
Informational Links
Date of Annual Town Meeting Bylaw, Citizen Petitions, Annual Town Meeting Warrants Bylaw, Town Moderator