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Starting in September, Salem polling places to be changed
SALEM — Some voters may see a change in their polling place beginning with the Sept. 11 primary election.
Voters should go to the location where they’ve traditionally voted for the Jan. 10 presidential primary and the March 13 town election, according to Town Moderator Christopher Goodnow.
“People are going to vote for the next two elections where they always have,” Goodnow said.
The selectmen voted last fall to reduce the number of polling places from six to four on Goodnow’s recommendation.
Salem has the most polling locations of any town in New Hampshire, Goodnow said. Starting with the September election, the Soule School, which has the least traffic, will be merged with the nearby Fisk School. People who usually vote at the Barron School and Town Hall will vote at the Senior Center.
Use of the Senior Center and other changes will help the town be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and New Hampshire state election laws, Goodnow said.
“A couple of our polling places were just too small to be in compliance with these regulations,” Goodnow said.
The changes may also add convenience for some voters, said Town Clerk Susan Wall. The Town Hall location frequently has traffic congestion on Election Day as voters vie for parking spaces with DMV visitors. More parking is available at the Senior Center location, Wall said.
The town moderator and the town clerk also have to visit all six locations throughout Election Day, and having fewer locations adds efficiency.
Voters affected by the changes will be notified before the September election, Wall said.
One small change will occur at three existing polling places for the upcoming election, Goodnow said. North Salem, Lancaster and Barron schools will hold voting in their newly constructed multi-purpose rooms. Entrances to the rooms are to the left of the school entrances and can be accesses from the exterior of the schools, Goodnow said.
The polling places are: Ward 1, Fisk School; Ward 2, Soule School; Ward 3, Barron School; Ward 4, Town Hall; Ward 5, Lancaster School; and Ward 6, North Salem School.
Voters should go to the location where they’ve traditionally voted for the Jan. 10 presidential primary and the March 13 town election, according to Town Moderator Christopher Goodnow.
“People are going to vote for the next two elections where they always have,” Goodnow said.
The selectmen voted last fall to reduce the number of polling places from six to four on Goodnow’s recommendation.
Salem has the most polling locations of any town in New Hampshire, Goodnow said. Starting with the September election, the Soule School, which has the least traffic, will be merged with the nearby Fisk School. People who usually vote at the Barron School and Town Hall will vote at the Senior Center.
Use of the Senior Center and other changes will help the town be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and New Hampshire state election laws, Goodnow said.
“A couple of our polling places were just too small to be in compliance with these regulations,” Goodnow said.
The changes may also add convenience for some voters, said Town Clerk Susan Wall. The Town Hall location frequently has traffic congestion on Election Day as voters vie for parking spaces with DMV visitors. More parking is available at the Senior Center location, Wall said.
The town moderator and the town clerk also have to visit all six locations throughout Election Day, and having fewer locations adds efficiency.
Voters affected by the changes will be notified before the September election, Wall said.
One small change will occur at three existing polling places for the upcoming election, Goodnow said. North Salem, Lancaster and Barron schools will hold voting in their newly constructed multi-purpose rooms. Entrances to the rooms are to the left of the school entrances and can be accesses from the exterior of the schools, Goodnow said.
The polling places are: Ward 1, Fisk School; Ward 2, Soule School; Ward 3, Barron School; Ward 4, Town Hall; Ward 5, Lancaster School; and Ward 6, North Salem School.