What To Know With Salem's Mayoral Preliminary Election 3 Weeks Away

SALEM, MA — In three weeks, Salem voters will go to the polls to narrow the field of five candidates to two in the race to become the Witch City's next mayor. The preliminary election will be on March 28 before a special election will then be held on May 16 to determine which of the candidates will fill out the remaining three years of the term Kim Driscoll vacated when she was elected as lieutenant governor in November.

The five candidates on the ballot are Former Salem City Councilor and Mayoral candidate Steve Dibble, former Salem Mayor and current Salisbury Town Administrator Neil Harrington, Salem community activist and former City Council candidate Stacia Kraft, Salem Acting Mayor and City Councilor Robert McCarthy and former Salem Chief of Staff Dominick Pangallo.

A candidate forum was held last week in which the candidates voiced many of the same progressive views, but in which clear differences in perspective and priorities were evident among them.

(Also on Patch: Salem Mayoral Debate 2023: Candidates Talk Schools, Housing, Halloween)

Here is what Salem residents need to know to vote in the March 28 preliminary election:

The last day to register to vote in the preliminary election is March 18 when the elections office at 93 Washington Street (City Hall) will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Salem election's office is opting to allow no-excuse vote by mail for this election. Vote-by-mail applications or written requests have to be completed and received by the City Clerk's office no later than Tuesday, March 21 by 5 p.m.

The ballots will be mailed once they are received. Those who have already sent in a mail-in application for all 2023 elections will receive the ballots for this and the May 16 special election.

Applications for mail-in ballots are acceptable provided the signature is visible and it is signed in substantially the same manner as a handwritten signature. This includes applications signed with a mouse, stylus, or finger. Applications with typed signatures are not acceptable. Any written request with your signature is an acceptable application. Applications may also be downloaded here.

Applications should be sent to City Clerk's Office, Room #5, 93 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970 or by email to: elections@salem.com.

Ballots must be returned to the City Clerk's office no later than 8 p.m. on March 28. Ballots can be mailed back or turned into the drop box at the clerk's office but cannot be delivered at the polls on March 28. Those mailing them are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to ensure they are received by the close of the polls on March 28.

When you receive your ballot by mail, the envelope will include a ballot, instructions, an inner envelope to place your cast ballot in, and an envelope to return your ballot in. Remember to place your ballot inside the inner envelope and sign your name before placing your ballot into the White Pre-Paid return envelope. No postage is needed.

In addition to the City Clerk's office, drop boxes will also be located at the Fire Station headquarters at 48 Lafayette Street, Fire Station No. 5 at 64 Loring Avenue, Fire Station No. 4 at 415 Essex Street and Fire Station No. 2 at 142 North Street.

There will be no early, in-person voting for the March 28 election.

All precincts will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 28:

Ward 1 Precinct 1 Bentley Academy Gymnasium, 25 Memorial Drive
Ward 1 Precinct 2 135 Lafayette Street, Community Room
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

Voters can check to see if they are registered here and whether they are "active status" voters here.

Here is a link to the March 28 sample ballot.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)