Butler, New Jersey Public Records

The Butler Fire Department, accessible at https://www.butlerborough.com/cn/webpage.cfm?tpid=18523, provides fire and emergency services throughout the borough. Meanwhile, the New Jersey State Police operate a criminal records search and depository at https://www.njportal.com/njsp/criminalrecords/, where individuals can request background checks and access public safety information.

Butler voters rely on the Morris County Clerk's Office, Elections Division, situated at the Morris County Administration & Records Building, 10 Court Street, 1st Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960 (phone: 973-285-6066, website: www.morriscountyclerk.org/elections). This division oversees every aspect of voter registration, election administration, and voting services for the borough and all other Morris County municipalities. New Jersey residents register online at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register, with a deadline of 21 days before any election. The state also permits same-day registration during early voting if you bring proof of residency. Registration requires a New Jersey driver's license or non-driver ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Municipal elections in Butler are non-partisan contests for Borough Council positions, with members serving three-year staggered terms. Council members then select the mayor from among themselves. The next municipal election is set for May 2026, when certain council seats will appear on the ballot. Voters can locate their assigned polling place using the New Jersey Division of Elections tool at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search or by reaching out to the County Clerk's Elections Division. Publicly accessible election records in New Jersey include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes under N.J.S.A. 19:31-18), campaign finance reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) at www.elec.nj.gov, candidate petition filings maintained by the County Clerk, and precinct-level results published after each election. The November 2024 presidential election brought strong turnout in Morris County, with roughly 68-72% of registered voters casting ballots—a reflection of the area's historically high civic participation. In the November 3, 2026 general election, residents will decide several significant races: all 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature (40 Senate seats and 80 Assembly seats are elected every odd year, but 2026 is an off-year), all three U.S. House seats representing portions of Morris County (New Jersey's 11th Congressional District covers most of the county including Butler), and various county offices such as County Clerk, Sheriff, and Surrogate if those terms expire in 2026. The U.S. Senate seat currently held by New Jersey's junior senator is not up for election in 2026, as Senate seats are contested in different cycles. New Jersey provides vote-by-mail (formerly absentee ballot) to all registered voters without requiring an excuse. Voters apply for a mail-in ballot online through the Morris County Clerk's website or by submitting a written application by mail or in person. Applications must reach the County Clerk by 7 days before the election for mail delivery, though voters can apply in person until 3 p.m. the day before the election. The state also offers early in-person voting at designated locations throughout the county for nine days before Election Day. Residents can track their mail-in ballot status through the state's online portal at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/.