Salem Preliminary Election: Voter's Guide

SALEM, MA — Voters in Salem will head to the polls Tuesday for the city's preliminary, which will thin the field of candidates running for school committee, as well as in the races for at-large city councilor and the city council seats from Wards 3 and Ward 6. Just two City Councilors — Ward 2's Christine Madore and Ward 5's Josh Turiel — are running unopposed this fall.

Related coverage on Salem Patch:

• Housing Is Key Issue In At-Large Salem City Council Race
• Salem School Committee Candidates Agree On Need To Improve

The candidate's running in Tuesday's preliminary election are listed below. You can click on a candidate's name to read their complete profile on Salem Patch. If a candidate's name is not highlighted, they did not respond to requests to complete a profile.

2019 Salem Preliminary Election

Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, At Large

Four seats up for reelection; top eight vote recipients in preliminary election will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election.

Jeff Cohen

Domingo J. Dominguez *

Melissa Faulkner

Gary Gill

Ty Hapworth

George McCabe

Alice Merkl

Elaine Milo *

Conrad J. Prosniewski

Arthur Sargent *

Maribel Steadman

Note: Incumbent Thomas H. Furey is not running for reelection.

City Council, Ward 3

Top two vote recipients in preliminary election will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election.

Robert Camire

Leo Higgins

Patti Morsillo

Jillian Mulholland

Note: Incumbent Lisa Peterson is running for U.S. Representative and is not running for reelection to Salem City Council.

City Council, Ward 6

Top two vote recipients in preliminary election will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election.

Megan Riccardi

Jerry Ryan

Tyler Terry

Note: Incumbent Beth Gerard is not running for reelection.

School Committee

Three seats up for reelection; top six vote recipients in preliminary election will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 5 general election.

Stephen Beauparlant

Jennifer Brown

Beth Anne Cornell

Jim Fleming *

Donna Fritz

Mary Manning *

Kristin Pangallo

Note: Incumbent Kristine Wilson is not seeking reelection. School Committee members Manny Cruz and Ana Nuncio are not up for reelection this year.

Important Information For Voters

Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8:00 p.m.

The deadline to register to vote in the preliminary election was Aug. 28. You can check your voting status on the Secretary of State's Website. You can also use the Website to find your polling place. If you missed the deadline to register to vote, make sure you register for future elections. The deadline to register for the Nov. 5 general election is Oct. 16.

The following is a list of polling places for Salem wards and precincts:

WARD ONE

• 1-1 BENTLEY ACADEMY, MEMORIAL DRIVE
• 1-2 COMMUNITY ROOM, 135 LAFAYETTE STREET

WARD TWO

• 2-1 ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL HALL, 24 ST. PETER STREET
• 2-2 ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL HALL, 24 ST. PETER STREET

WARD THREE

• 3-1 SALEM HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 77 WILLSON STREET
• 3-2 SALEM HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 77 WILLSON STREET

WARD FOUR

• 4-1 WITCHCRAFT HEIGHTS SCHOOL GYMNASIUM, 1 FREDERICK STREET
• 4-2 WITCHCRAFT HEIGHTS SCHOOL GYMNASIUM, 1 FREDERICK STREET

WARD FIVE

• 5-1 SALTONSTALL SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 211 LAFAYETTE STREET
• 5-2 SALTONSTALL SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 211 LAFAYETTE STREET

WARD SIX

• 6-1 BATES SCHOOL, LIBERTY HILL AVENUE
• 6-2 PARK & RECREATION DEPT., MACK PARK

WARD SEVEN

• 7-1 SALEM STATE ENTERPRISE CENTER, 121 LORING AVENUE
• 7-2 SALEM STATE ENTERPRISE CENTER, 121 LORING AVENUE

Absentee Ballots

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is noon on the day before the election, according to the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Absentee ballots can be requested from the Town Clerk in writing, by either the voter or a family member. Absentee ballots are available to people who will be out of town during the hours the polls are open, have a physical disability preventing them from going to the polling place, or a religious belief.

The easiest way to request an absentee ballot is to fill out a Massachusetts Absentee Ballot Application and return it to the town clerk's office.

Are you running for office in Salem? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Salem Patch.