Princeton Official Decides Council Seat by Draw

A lot draw secures a town council seat for Tyler Willis after a dead heat vote.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing two blank paper envelopes side-by-side, representing the tie-breaking lottery procedure in a municipal election. — Princeton officials finalized the town council election results by lot on October 26, after a judicial recount confirmed a tie between candidates. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Following a confirmed tie in the October 14, 2026 town council election, officials in Princeton have determined the final seat winner by lot. Judicial recount efforts confirmed that Tyler Willis and Paula Shackleton both received 391 votes.

Why it matters

The tie required the use of a lot draw to break the deadlock for the fourth council seat. This procedural step ensures a result for the town council when traditional counting fails to produce a unique candidate.

A judicial recount confirmed that Tyler Willis and Paula Shackleton tied with 391 votes each out of 1,053 total ballots cast in the race. Nine candidates competed for seats in the town council election.

The players

Tyler Willis

He is the candidate who secured the fourth council seat following a lot draw and previously served on the council in 2018 and 2022.

Paula Shackleton

She is the candidate who tied for the final council seat with 391 votes.

Carrie Kassa

She is the official who declared the winner of the council election.

The details

Carrie Kassa officially declared Tyler Willis the winner on October 26, 2026, after the recount procedure concluded. Willis brings prior experience to the position, having served on the council during 2018 and 2022.

October 14, 2026: The Princeton town council election occurred.
October 26, 2026: Tyler Willis was officially declared the winner of the council seat.

Political Context

The Princeton municipal election charter provides the mechanism for settling tied votes, extending the standard democratic process into formal tie-breaking procedures. This outcome marks a departure from standard voting majorities by relying on a lot draw as the final arbiter.

Residents in Princeton will see Tyler Willis seated as the final council member for the upcoming term. This resolution clarifies the town council composition without further legal delays or recurring voting requirements for the public.

The takeaway

Close electoral races demonstrate the importance of every individual vote in local governance. When ties occur, municipalities rely on specific procedural statutes to ensure that administrative leadership is determined fairly.