Shrewsbury 2026 Election Voter Guide: Candidates, Ballot Questions And Where To Vote

SHREWSBURY, MA — Election Day is approaching and Shrewsbury voters will face a lengthy ballot with federal, statewide and local district races.

The Massachusetts state election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3. Residents will vote for governor, U.S. senator, state legislators and other offices, along with nine statewide ballot questions. Here is what Shrewsbury voters need to know.

When Is Election Day?

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Residents can register, update an address or check their status through VoteInMA.

Polling Locations

Shrewsbury residents must vote at the location assigned to their precinct. The town lists the following Election Day polling locations:

• Precinct 1: Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building, 100 Maple Ave.
• Precinct 2: Shrewsbury Senior Center, 98 Maple Ave.
• Precinct 3: Calvin Coolidge School, 1 Florence St.
• Precinct 4: Scandinavian Athletic Club, 438 Lake St.
• Precinct 5: Sewer/Water Department Garage, 209 South St.
• Precinct 6: Shrewsbury Senior Center, 98 Maple Ave.
• Precinct 7: Spring Street School, 123 Spring St.
• Precinct 8: Spring Street School, 123 Spring St.
• Precinct 9: Fire Station No. 3, 20 Centech Blvd.
• Precinct 10: Sewer/Water Department Garage, 209 South St.

Voters who are unsure of their precinct can use the state’s polling-place lookup.

Early Voting

Early in-person voting will take place in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room at Town Hall, 100 Maple Ave., from Saturday, Oct. 17 through Friday, Oct. 30.

• Oct. 17: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Oct. 18: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Oct. 19: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 20: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 21-22: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 23: 8 a.m. to noon
• Oct. 24: Noon to 4 p.m.
• Oct. 25: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Oct. 26: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 27: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 28-29: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 30: 8 a.m. to noon

The schedule is available on the Shrewsbury state election page.

Voting By Mail

Vote-by-mail and absentee applications must reach the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Completed ballots may be mailed, delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office or placed in the ballot drop box outside Town Hall. Hand-delivered ballots must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots cannot be returned to polling locations.

Domestic ballots received through the mail will be counted if they are postmarked by Nov. 3 and reach the clerk by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. Overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day may arrive through Nov. 13, according to the town’s election schedule.

Voters can track their ballots online.

Who Is On The Ballot?

The following candidates will appear on Shrewsbury ballots, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s candidate list.

U.S. Senate: Edward J. Markey (D); John Deaton (R); Shiva Ayyadurai (I); Joe Tache (Socialism and Liberation).

Governor And Lieutenant Governor: Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll (D); Michael Minogue and Shawn Oliver (R); Andrea James and Kayla Kittredge (I).

Attorney General: Andrea Joy Campbell (D); Michael C. Walsh (R).

Secretary Of The Commonwealth: William Francis Galvin (D); Anne R. Brensley (R).

State Treasurer: Deborah B. Goldberg (D); Elizabeth Dionne (R).

State Auditor: Diana DiZoglio (D); Al Ozonoff (Libertarian).

U.S. House, 2nd Congressional District: James P. McGovern (D).

Governor’s Council, 7th District: Paul M. DePalo (D); Margaret M. Abboud (R).

State Senate, 2nd Worcester District: Michael O. Moore (D).

State House, 11th Worcester District: Hannah Elizabeth Kane (R).

Middle District Attorney: Joseph D. Early Jr. (D).

Worcester County Register Of Probate: Stephanie K. Fattman (R).

McGovern, Moore, Kane, Early and Fattman are running without listed opponents. Patch reported on Kane’s nomination and campaign.

Ballot Questions

All Shrewsbury voters will decide nine binding statewide questions. The state’s official ballot question guide includes the full proposals and arguments for and against each measure.

• See Related: Legal Pot Sales Repeal, State Primary Reform Among 9 MA Ballot Questions This Fall

Question 1: Public Records. A yes vote would place most records held by the governor’s office and Legislature under the state Public Records Law. A no vote would leave the current law unchanged.

Question 2: Public Defender Employees. A yes vote would specify that Committee for Public Counsel Services employees may unionize and collectively bargain. A no vote would leave the current labor law unchanged.

Question 3: State Primaries. A yes vote would replace party primaries for state offices with a single all-party primary, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election. A no vote would retain separate party primaries. Patch examined the proposal here.

Question 4: Election Day Registration. A yes vote would allow eligible residents to register or update their addresses at their polling places on Election Day beginning in 2028. A no vote would retain the advance registration deadline.

Question 5: State Revenue Limit. A yes vote would change the state revenue cap by linking it to the previous year’s collections and average wage growth, with excess revenue returned to taxpayers. A no vote would leave the current system unchanged.

Question 6: Nature For All Fund. A yes vote would create a conservation fund supported by portions of taxes collected from sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf-course use. A no vote would leave those revenues allocated under current law.

Question 7: Single-Family Housing. A yes vote would generally allow single-family homes on residential lots of at least 5,000 square feet that meet frontage, water and sewer requirements. Municipalities could still regulate height, parking and setbacks. A no vote would make no change.

Question 8: Recreational Marijuana Sales. A yes vote would repeal the legal, regulated retail market for recreational marijuana while continuing to allow limited adult possession. A no vote would preserve the current law.

Question 9: Firearms Law. A yes vote would keep the state’s 2024 firearms law in place, including provisions covering ghost guns, assault-style weapons and extreme-risk protection orders. A no vote would repeal the law. Read Patch’s closer look at Question 9.