Sudbury 2026 Annual Town Election Results Information
We understand there is a lot of interest in the results of the March 30, 2026 Annual Town Election. The narrow margin of the Sudbury School Committee race is of particular interest.
Following all elections in Massachusetts, three things happen:
- The machine tapes are printed, read and posted in each precinct when the polls close. These machine tape totals reflect only the votes read by the voting machines. For any write-in votes where the voter filled in the blank, the tape shows that there was a write-in vote, but not who the voter voted for.
- Each and every ballot counted by the machine is then reviewed for write-in votes. All write-ins are tallied, even if the corresponding oval is not completed. Those write-in votes are recorded and then added to the machine tape totals, with appropriate adjustments made. For example, a voter might have filled in the oval next to the “write-in” line but may not have actually written in the name of a candidate.
- Ballots that could not be read or counted by the machine are often referred to as “hand count” or “add in” ballots. These ballots are manually placed in a special compartment in the machine in full view of the voter. As the machine did not count any races on the ballot, each office must be tallied and recorded. These votes are also added to the machine totals. All ballots were counted at the polling location on Monday.
Typically, the final totals differ from the totals on the tape – the final totals include write-in votes, any appropriate adjustments, and the votes from the hand count ballots. It is important to recognize that even when a write-in candidate is actively campaigning, like Jonathan Sullivan, not all write-in votes were cast for that candidate. In addition, the votes cast on the “hand count” ballots may be for the candidates printed on the ballot or for a write-in candidate.
It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that the addition of the hand count ballot votes and the fact that not all write-in votes in the School Committee race were cast for Jonathan Sullivan changed the vote totals from those on the machine tapes. The addition of hand count votes increased the totals for Ellen Lederer-Defranceso and Julie Durgin. Conversely, Jonathan Sullivan’s total vote count was less than that shown on the machine tapes for “write-ins”, as some of those votes were cast for others.
The Town Clerk’s Office is working with Town Counsel to confirm the tallies. We expect to report confirmed results later this week.
We also recognize that, due to the narrow margin, there may be a desire for a recount. A summary of the recount process, prepared by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is posted here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/getting-on-the-ballot/election-recounts.htm.
Any candidate may file a recount petition with the Town Clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 10th day after the election, here, April 9th. For each precinct the candidate wants recounted, they must file a petition signed by at least 10 registered voters, one of which must be notarized for each precinct. Petitions will soon be available in the Town Clerk’s office and can be requested at the Secretary’s Elections Division at 1 Ashburton Place in Boston, 17th floor.