Thorne Bay certifies mayoral election with 47 percent turnout

The City of Thorne Bay certified results from its May 12 special mayoral election on May 18, 2026, after counting all ballots at a canvass meeting at City Hall.

The city recorded 235 ballots cast in the election to fill the mayor's seat. That represents 47 percent of Thorne Bay's 500 registered voters.

The canvass meeting started at 5:30 p.m. Election workers counted absentee and questioned ballots that had arrived after election day. The council met immediately after to certify the official results.

How the count unfolded

Thorne Bay posted preliminary in-person results on May 13, the day after the election. Those numbers did not include absentee or questioned ballots, which the city held for the May 18 canvass following standard procedure.

The city posted notices for both the canvass and council meeting on its website by mid-May, giving residents several days to review information before the Monday evening session.

How to follow Thorne Bay elections

The Thorne Bay City Council serves as the canvassing body for city elections. Regular council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Thorne Bay City Hall. Agendas and packets are posted on the City of Thorne Bay website, typically by 4:00 p.m. the Friday before each meeting.