Sophie Sherman sat in a voting booth at the Hopkinton Middle High School gymnasium and made her choice.
A privacy divider concealed her ballot, but anyone who saw 11-year-old Sophie campaigning outside the school with her dad, Joel Sherman, knew which candidate had her heart and her vote.
“A vote for Larry is a vote for belly rubs!” she declared, promoting her family’s pit bull, Larry the-Cable-Dog Sherman.
Like the Shermans, voters in Hopkinton, both young and old, turned out to exercise their right to vote. Voters under the age of 18 didn’t cast ballots in the regular town election but rather in a one-of-a-kind Dog of the Year election.
Voters across the state participated in the same time-honored tradition of local, self-governance.
In Bow, voting took place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bow Memorial School. Voters filed into privacy booths to make decisions about a number of zoning amendments and to select two members for the town’s budget committee.
Many voters evaluated questions about open enrollment, accessory dwelling units and veterans’ tax credits, as statewide issues percolated into local communities.
However, nowhere else was there as much fanfare or as unique a race as in Hopkinton.
Families brought their dogs to greet voters as they arrived. Ruby Kilrain and Lucca Persechino campaigned outside the school for Wilson, the 18-year-old chihuahua. Both described him as a loving dog who also enjoys sleeping a lot.
Inside the gymnasium, parents went one way to cast their ballots and children went the other. Kenley Persechino, daughter of the town moderator Sara Persechino, said she understood her mom better after guiding kids through the voting process.
“It’s taught me that it’s kind of boring in the morning,” Kenley said. “It’s tiring, and you have to keep your hopes up.”
Each kid earned an “I voted” sticker and walked back out to greet their candidates.
For up-to-date election information, including results as they’re made available, visit concordmonitor.com/town-meeting-2026.
Six-year-old Grant Lux cast his vote in the “Dog of the Year” contest in Hopkinton and proudly displayed his “I Voted” stickers. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
Princess Leia kept cool outside of the polls on Tuesday, March 10 as she awaited results from Hopkinton’s “Dog of the Year” contest. 
Two candidates from the Hopkinton dog election, Penny (L) and Larry the Cable Dog Sherman (R), met at the polls. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
Hopkinton High School junior Joe Bewerdorf cast a ballot in the Hopkinton “Dog of the Year” election. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
Hopkinton’s town election included a kids-only ballot for “Dog of the Year.” Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
Karin Cohen and her dog Daisy arrived to the polls early to greet voters in Hopkinton. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
Wilson the Chihuahua was the oldest candidate at the poll at the grand old age of 18.