North Plainfield, New Jersey Public Records

The registration deadline falls 21 days before any election, though the state also offers same-day registration during the early voting period. Eligible voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by the next election, and residents of New Jersey and Somerset County for at least 30 days before the election. As an incorporated borough, North Plainfield holds municipal elections for Mayor and Borough Council. The mayor serves a four-year term, while the six-member council is divided into three wards with two council members per ward serving staggered three-year terms. Municipal elections occur in November of odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, etc.) as part of New Jersey's consolidated general election format. The next municipal election will be November 4, 2025, which may include mayoral and council seats depending on the election cycle. Information on candidates, sample ballots, and local ballot questions can be found through the Somerset County Clerk's website or the Borough Clerk at 908-769-2900. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the New Jersey polling place lookup tool at voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search, which requires entering name and date of birth or address information. New Jersey implemented early voting beginning in 2021, with early voting sites available across Somerset County for the ten days preceding Election Day. In the November 2024 presidential election, Somerset County reported strong Presidential elections here typically see higher turnout than off-year municipal elections. New Jersey holds U.S. Senate elections in 2026, with one of the state's two Senate seats on the ballot. All 12 of New Jersey's U.S. House seats will be contested, with the borough located in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. The entire New Jersey Legislature is elected every odd year, so state Assembly and Senate seats will not be on the 2026 ballot. However, county-level offices including Somerset County Board of County Commissioners seats and the Somerset County Clerk, Sheriff, and Surrogate may appear depending on term expirations. Voters should consult the Somerset County Clerk's website closer to the election for confirmed candidate lists and ballot information. New Jersey offers mail-in voting (formerly absentee voting) to all registered voters without requiring an excuse. Voters can request mail-in ballots online through Somerset County Clerk's website or by submitting a written application. Mail-in ballot applications must be received by Somerset County Clerk by 7 days before Election Day, and completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 48 hours, or placed in secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Somerset County provides multiple drop box locations throughout Somerset County during election periods. Election records that are public in New Jersey include voter registration lists (available to campaigns and political organizations under specific conditions outlined in 19:31-18), election results by municipality and district (published by Somerset County Clerk after certification), campaign finance reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission at www.elec.nj.gov, and candidate petitions and filings maintained by Somerset County Clerk. Precinct-level results for the borough are available through Somerset County Clerk after each election, showing vote totals by candidate and ballot question for each voting district within the community.