Mayoral elections at Michel Delving

[Tar-Jêx]

Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron

We know that the Mayor of the Shire was elected every 7 years at Michel Delving. But we also know that many Shirefolk didn't travel much out of their own immediate locality. For example, if a hobbit lived in Stock, Rushey or Sarn Ford, these were considerable distances from Michel Delving. And surely it would have been impossible for every hobbit of voting age to travel to Michel Delving anyway?

So did the Shire have a postal voting system? Or was the Mayor a job concentrating on the West Farthing, with the Thain having authority in the middle of the Shire and the Master of Buckland controlling the east?

From what was described in the appendices and in the Scouring of the Shire, the Mayor was a somewhat casual, yet prestigious position. I think everyone would just choose who they thought was most suited for the job, and they'd be made mayor.