Trenton, New Jersey Public Records

New Jersey's bond and bail process allows for release of detainees under certain conditions, and information on recently arrested individuals can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or the Correction Center's online portal.

Registration deadlines close 21 days before an election. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by the next election, New Jersey residents, and not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction. A valid New Jersey driver's license or non-driver ID number is required for online registration, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The city operates under a Mayor-Council form of government with nonpartisan municipal elections, though party affiliations remain well-known in the community. The Mayor and seven City Council members—four elected at-large and three from wards—serve four-year terms. Mayoral and council elections take place in May of odd-numbered years. The most recent mayoral election occurred in May 2022, which means the next contest will be held in May 2026. City Council seats are also up for grabs in 2026. Voters can find information about local candidates, sample ballots, and ballot questions specific to the capital city through the Mercer County Clerk's election website. To locate your specific polling place, residents should use the New Jersey polling place lookup tool at voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search or contact the Mercer County Clerk directly. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day. New Jersey provides extensive public access to election records under state law. Voter registration files are available for purchase by campaigns and political committees through the Mercer County Clerk. Campaign finance reports for candidates are filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) at elec.nj.gov, where contributions and expenditures are searchable online. Local municipal candidates file with the Trenton City Clerk. Candidate petitions, declarations of candidacy, and ballot position information are public records available through the Mercer County Clerk. Election results by precinct are published on the Mercer County Clerk's website following certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Mercer County reported approximately 65-68% voter turnout with over 230,000 ballots cast from approximately 355,000 registered voters, with precincts in the capital showing strong turnout in urban wards. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026 (the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November), voters across the city and county will decide multiple significant races. New Jersey's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Cory Booker will be on the ballot in 2026 (Class II seat). All 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature—40 Senate seats and 80 Assembly seats—will be contested in November 2025 odd-year elections, not 2026. Residents of the capital vote in Legislative District 15. County-level offices including Mercer County Executive (if the term cycle aligns), County Clerk, Sheriff, Surrogate, and Freeholder/Commissioner seats may appear on the 2026 ballot depending on term expirations. Voters should check the Mercer County Clerk's election calendar for confirmed races and filing deadlines. New Jersey offers mail-in voting (formerly absentee) to all registered voters without requiring an excuse. Voters can request mail-in ballots online through the Mercer County Clerk's portal, by mail, or in person. Applications must be received by the Mercer County Clerk by 7 days before the election. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 48 hours, or deposited in secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Drop box locations are published on the Mercer County Clerk's website.