Belmar, New Jersey Public Records

New Jersey residents can register to vote online through the State of New Jersey Division of Elections at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register. A valid New Jersey driver's license or non-driver ID is required. Registration must be completed 21 days before Election Day, though the state also offers same-day voter registration during early voting and on Election Day at designated locations. Paper applications are available at the Monmouth County Clerk's office, municipal clerks' offices, motor vehicle agencies, and various government offices. Eligibility requires U.S. Citizenship, being at least 18 years old by the next election, New Jersey and county residency for 30 days before the election, and not currently serving a sentence, probation, or parole for a felony conviction. As an incorporated borough, Belmar holds municipal elections for Mayor and six Borough Council seats. The Mayor serves a four-year term, while Council members serve three-year staggered terms with two seats contested annually. The borough's municipal elections take place in May under New Jersey's non-partisan municipal election system, separate from November general elections. The next municipal election is scheduled for May 2025, with the mayoral seat up for election in 2026. Information on local candidates, ballot questions, and sample ballots is available through the Monmouth County Clerk's Elections Division and at the Belmar Borough Clerk's office. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the New Jersey Division of Elections polling place lookup tool at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search or by contacting the Monmouth County Clerk's Elections Division. New Jersey implemented early in-person voting beginning with the 2021 general election, offering nine days of early voting at designated locations throughout Monmouth County prior to Election Day. Under state law, voter registration lists are public records available for inspection by candidates, political parties, and certain organizations, though commercial use is restricted. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates can be searched through the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) at https://www.elec.nj.gov. Election results by municipality and district are published by the Monmouth County Clerk after certification and posted on the Monmouth County website. Candidate filing documents, petition signatures, and ballot access records are maintained by the Elections Division. The borough posted strong participation consistent with county trends, with voters spread across six voting districts. New Jersey holds elections for all 120 seats in the State Legislature in years ending in "1," "3," "7," and "9," making 2026 an off-cycle year for state legislative races, meaning all 40 State Senate seats and 80 General Assembly seats will not be contested. However, county offices including Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners seats, County Clerk, Sheriff, and Surrogate may appear on the ballot depending on term expirations. The New Jersey gubernatorial election was held in 2025, so no statewide offices will be contested in 2026. New Jersey's U.S. Senate seats are contested in presidential election years and midterm years, so a U.S. Senate race will appear in 2026, and New Jersey's 4th Congressional District (which includes the borough) will have a U.S. House race in 2026. Municipal elections continue on the May schedule separately. New Jersey offers vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots to any registered voter without requiring an excuse. Voters can apply for a mail-in ballot online through the Monmouth County Clerk's website, by mail, or in person. Applications must be received by the Monmouth County Clerk by 7 days before the election for mail delivery, or voters can apply in person until 3 PM the day before Election Day. Completed mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 48 hours after polls close, or deposited in secure ballot drop boxes by 8 PM on Election Day. Ballot drop box locations throughout Monmouth County are listed on the Monmouth County Clerk's website.