Each town shall elect, at its regular municipal election, unless otherwise provided by law and except as provided in § 9-185, not more than seven constables; except that the town of Groton may elect fourteen constables. When the number of constables to be elected by any town is even, no person shall vote for more than one-half the number; when the number to be elected is odd, no person shall vote for more than a bare majority of the number. The candidates in number sufficient to fill the office of constable who have the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.