You can register to vote online, in person at the clerk’s office, by mail or through the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

Online with the MA Secretary of the Commonwealth at this link:

• If you have an ID issued by the RMV, you can register on-line because they have your signature on file.

• Otherwise, complete and print out the registration form and mail it or bring it to the Salem City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 93 Washington St., Salem.

To find out more you can visit the City Clerk’s Web Page:

https://www.salemma.gov/944/Voter-Registration

If you have any questions regarding voter registration, or if you are not certain if you are still registered, contact the City Clerk's Office at 978-745-9595, ext. 41211 or 41212.

at the Website for the Secretary for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

You can check your status, ward number, polling location and party enrollment here:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx

If you have moved recently, even within Salem, it is important to update your address on your registration. You can do that here:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/Pages/CheckEligibility.aspx?&Action=UpdateAddress

If your name has changed since you last registered you can update it here:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/Pages/NameChange.aspx?&Action=UpdateName

Primary Election Sept 1:
Early Voting Period: August 22-28

General Election November 3:
Early Voting Period: October 17-30

Absentee or mail-in voting is another option for early voting as well. Learn about absentee voting here

How to get a mail-in ballot.

Vote by Mail Application Deadlines 2026:

• Primary Election: 5 p.m., August 25

• General Election: 5 p.m., October 27

Return your mail ballot to City Hall or a dropbox by 8pm on Election Day. Do not bring it to your polling location.

If you mail your ballot, be sure it gets postmarked by election day and can be delivered by Sept 4. If you have to mail your ballot, do so as early as possible to allow time for delivery.

How to track your ballot.

Dropbox locations

Early in-person voting will take place August 22-28 at City Hall Annex. Go to this link for hours of voting.

In person on election day voting is September 1st for the primary election and November 3rd for the general election. You can find your polling location here.

Here you will find information on the following:

• Accessible Voting Procedures

• Accessible Voting Equipment

• Who to contact for help

• Requesting an accessible vote by mail application

You may need to show identification when you check-in at your polling place if:

• You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts

• You’re on the inactive voter list

• You're casting a provisional or challenged ballot

• The poll worker has a practical and legal reason to ask for identification

Identification needs to show your name and the address where you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification are:

• A driver's license

• A state ID card

• A recent utility bill

• A rent receipt or lease.

• A copy of a voter registration affidavit

• A letter from a school dormitory or housing office

• Any other printed identification which contains your name and address

If you need to show identification because you’re voting for the first time and you don’t have identification with you, you can cast a provisional ballot. If you return with identification before the polls close, your ballot will be counted.

If you need to show identification for any other reason and you’re not able to do so, you can cast a challenged ballot. Your name and address, the challenger’s name and address, and the reason for the challenge will be written on your ballot. Your ballot will be cast as normal and only examined if there is a recount, court order, or audit.

Source: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/voting-information/identification-requirements.htm

Ward Map

Individual Precinct Maps

This information also available by checking your registration status here:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx

Check your polling location here

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/voter-resources/find-my-local-election-office.htm#s

https://www.salemma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1656/Interested-Poll-Worker-Form---English-and-Spanish-PDF

The League of Women Voters candidate information can be found at https://www.vote411.org/

Salem City Clerk's Office

Your first point of contact should be the city clerk's office, which oversees all election-day operations in Salem.

• Phone: (978) 745-9595, then use extension 41200 for the City Clerk or extension 41211 for the Assistant City Clerk for Elections.

• In person: On Election Day, you can also speak with the Poll Workers and the Precinct Warden at your polling location. 

Specimen Ballots for the September 1 Primary:

Democratic ballot: Link to MA State website

Republican ballot: Link to MA State website

Specimen ballots for the November 3 State Election will be posted on the MA Secretary of the Commonwealth website before the election. Once available, a link to that site will be listed here.