Salem 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidates

SALEM, MA — Salem voters will go to the polls on Sept. 6 to cast a ballot in the statewide primary.

The 2022 primary will be the first in Massachusetts to feature the state's brand-new, pandemic-tested voting system. In the primary, voters have multiple options: either mailing in ballots, voting early or going to the polls as usual on Election Day.

With new voting rules in place and a ton of candidates on the ballot, Patch has put together a 2022 Salem primary voting guide to get you primed and ready to vote. Here's everything you need to know:

Important Dates

• Delivery of a mail-in ballot: Sept. 6 at 8 p.m.
• Voting on Election Day, Sept. 6: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Check if you're registered to vote here

Voting by mail

Massachusetts briefly joined a handful of other U.S. states in allowing voting by mail during the pandemic. Then the Legislature let the practice expire. Then they brought it back in June after passing a big, new voting rights bill.

The state has improved the vote by mail materials since the pandemic, but the process is largely the same: once you get your ballot, you fill it out at home with a black pen and then return it to be counted. The best way to return a mail-in ballot is by putting in your local ballot drop box or hand-delivering it to your city or town clerk. You CANNOT drop it off at a polling place on Sept. 6.

Salem has five vote drop boxes available for residents to place their mail-in votes.

Those will be located outside City Hall at 93 Washington Street, the Fire Station Headquarters at 48 Lafayette Street, the fire station at 64 Loring Avenue, the fire station at 415 Essex Street and the fire station at 142 North Street.

Polling places

If you're voting in person on Sept. 6, it's possible you'll have a new polling location.

Due to the 2020 Census, most city and town clerks in Massachusetts redrew voting districts to compensate for population shifts. Most likely you'll be voting in the same old place (or by mail), but you can check to make sure here.

Salem polling locations are:

Ward 1 Precinct 1 Bentley Academy Gymnasium, 25 Memorial Drive
Ward 1 Precinct 2 Community Center, 135 Lafayette Street
Ward 2 Precinct 1 & 2 Community Life Center, 401 Bridge Street
Ward 3 Precinct 1 & 2 Salem High School, Auditorium, 77 Willson Street
Ward 4 Precinct 1 & 2 Witchcraft Heights School Gymnasium, 1 Frederick Street
Ward 5 Precinct 1 & 2 Saltonstall School Auditorium, 211 Lafayette Street
Ward 6 Precinct 1 & 2 Bates School Gymnasium, 53 Liberty Hill Avenue
Ward 7 Precinct 1 & 2 Salem Enterprise Center, 121 Loring Avenue

Who's on the ballot?

Since it's a primary, your ballot will feature only candidates from the party you've chosen to vote for. Primary elections decide which candidate from the major political parties advance to compete in the November general election. Only the winners of the general election go on to hold office.

In 2022, Democrats have a much bigger field than Republicans with seven competitive races — six if you subtract Sonia Chang-Diaz, who dropped out of the gubernatorial primary in June.

Here are the competitive statewide races for the Democratic and GOP candidates:

SALEM

Along with statewide races, Salem voters have several district races to vote on in Tuesday's primary.

State Sen. Joan Lovely has a primary challenge for the Democratic nomination from Kyle Davis for the 2nd Essex seat.

City Councilor At-Large Domingo Dominguez, School Committee Vice-Chair Manny Cruz and former Salem Planning Board and Board of Health member Gene Collins are vying for the open 7th Essex state representative seat.

State Rep. Paul Tucker and James O'Shea are vying for the Essex County District Attorney seat opened with Jonathan Blodgett's decision not to run for re-election.

Essex County Sheriff John Coppinger has a challenge from Virginia Leigh.

Many of the other races have candidates running unopposed.

STATEWIDE DEMOCRATS

Attorney General

• Andrea Campbell
• Shannon Liss-Riordan
• Quentin Palfrey

Auditor

• Christopher Dempsey
• Diana DiZoglio

Governor

• Sonia Chang-Diaz (dropped out, but still on ballot)
• Maura Healey

Lieutenant Governor

• Kim Driscoll
• Tami Gouveia
• Eric Lesser

Secretary of State

• William Galvin
• Tanisha Sullivan

See more Democratic state House and Senate candidates here

STATEWIDE REPUBLICANS

Governor

• Geoff Diehl
• Chris Doughty

Lieutenant Governor

• Leah Allen
• Kate Campanale

See more Republican state House and Senate candidates here