How Voter Turnout Compared To Previous Reading Elections

READING, MA — Voter turnout took a plunge in Reading this year, as just 19 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the Town Election.

On Tuesday, voters re-elected School Committee member Shawn Brandt and Reading Municipal Light Department Commissioner John Stempeck by slim margins, with the incumbents edging out the third-place candidate in their respective races by fewer than 30 votes.

Those who voted were more enthusiastic about the newcomers. Christopher Haley unseated Vanessa Alvarado on the Select Board and Sarah McLaughlin and Marlena Bita topped the races for School Committee and Reading Municipal Light Board, respectively.

The closeness of the races underscored this year's low voter turnout. By comparison, around 48 percent of voters turned out for the Recall Election in September, which coincided with the Massachusetts primary, and the 2020 Town Election.

Meanwhile, 83 percent of voters cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election.

Last year's local elections came on the heels of controversy involving elected officials and the police department. The effort to recall Select Board member Vanessa Alvarado – accused of violating the town charter by stalling the ratification of a new police chief – ultimately failed, while Selectman Andrew Friedmann was voted out after his controversial comments about police officers prompted a mass walkout at a Select Board meeting.

Participation in the annual Town Election seems to fluctuate, as it fell to 18 percent in 2019, a year after it was 43 percent. See voter turnout for the last five Town Elections below:

• 2021: 19.1 percent
• 2020: 47.6 percent
• 2019: 18.3 percent
• 2018: 43.8 percent
• 2017: 17.5 percent