Salem Reduces Polling Locations

The Salem Board of Selectmen approved a plan to reduce the number of polling locations in town from six to four Monday night.

by Town Moderator Chris Goodnow in June following the passage of a March warrant article instructing Salem to administer changes to comply with state law.

Polling locations at Barron School and Town Hall will be folded into one location at the Ingram Senior Center, and the location at the Soule School will be folded into the Fisk School location.

Voting at the Lancaster and North Salem schools will remain unchanged and there will be no redistricting under this plan.

The changes will go into effect with the September 2012 state primary elections.

When the plan was introduced, Selectmen Stephen Campbell wanted the town to ask people who use the Senior Center if they were comfortable with giving up potentially several Tuesdays during the year for balloting.

A survey was conducted in five groups totaling 92 seniors who use the center and Town Manager Keith Hickey said Monday night that all those surveyed were "very supportive" of the plan.

A move to the Senior Center would eliminate Town Hall congestion on election days and allow for full Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, Goodnow said in a letter to Hickey from May 31.