Assuming the results hold up, yesterday’s election in Barnstable will be trotted out for years to come in “why you should vote” editorials. The Cape Cod Times reports that an extensive reorganization of town government — changing the number of town council and school committee members and the way they’re elected — passed by a margin of one:

Voters approved the charter ballot question, which will reform the town council in 2011, by the slimmest of margins, 2,579-2,578. Another 232 voters that turned in ballots left the question blank.

Congratulations, Barnstable! Maybe if you put a repeal of the new system on the ballot in two years, you’ll get an absolute tie.

UPDATE: A hand recount found that the proposal actually lost by 10 votes.