Salem Voters To Use New 'ImageCast' Ballot Machines For Elections

SALEM, MA — Salem voters in the upcoming primary and presidential elections will use new "ImageCast" ballot scanners that are replacing the AccuVote scanners that have been in use since 1998.

The Salem City Clerk's Office said the new machines have been extensively vetted and certified by the federal government and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Voters will still mark a paper ballot that is then inserted into the ballot tabulator.

"To the voters, the process remains the same," City Clerk Ilene Simons said.

She said the new system includes "an improved technology that's simple to use, secure, dependable and more transparent than the previous tabulators that were used for more
than 25 years."

The new system includes a 10-inch screen that will alert poll workers and voters if they voted for more candidates than allowed and will have a Spanish option at the press of a button.

Poll workers this week were being trained in the use of the new machines so they can assist voters on Election Day.

"Please be patient as this is new to all of us," Simmons said.

The registration deadline to vote in the primary election is Saturday at 5 p.m.

Early, in-person voting for the Sept. 3 primary begins on Saturday at the City Hall Annex at 98 Washington Street on the first floor. Free early-voting parking spaces will be available in the Sewall Street lot.

Voting begins on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continues Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Early voting will take place on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and conclude on Friday, Aug. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon.

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