Clifton, New Jersey Public Records

The registration deadline stands at 21 days before any election, with online registration available right up to that cutoff. In-person registration is also accepted at the Passaic County Clerk's office, municipal clerk offices, or motor vehicle agencies. While party affiliation isn't required for registration, voters may declare party membership to participate in primary elections. The city holds municipal elections for Mayor and City Council positions. The Mayor serves a four-year term, while the City Council comprises members elected from seven wards, each serving staggered four-year terms. Municipal elections occur in May during odd-numbered years, with the next Clifton races scheduled for May 2025 and May 2027, though vacancies occasionally place some contests on November ballots. Candidate filings and local ballot questions are processed through the Clifton City Clerk at 900 Clifton Avenue. Residents can locate their assigned polling place through the Passaic County Clerk's website or the state's voter lookup at nj.gov/state/elections/vote.shtml, which displays polling addresses, sample ballots, and hours (polls open 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on election day). Public election records in New Jersey include voter registration lists available for political purposes with restrictions, campaign finance reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission at elec.nj.gov, candidate nominating petitions, and precinct-level results. Individual voter history showing which elections a person voted in, but not their choices, can be obtained through OPRA requests to the Passaic County Clerk. During the November 2024 presidential election, Passaic County recorded approximately 54% voter turnout with over 170,000 ballots cast from roughly 315,000 registered voters. The city contributed a significant share of those votes, with local turnout typically running slightly above the county average. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters here will decide several major races. The entire New Jersey General Assembly follows an unusual cycle with elections in 2025 and 2027 but not 2026. However, 2026 brings the U.S. Senate race for New Jersey's Class II seat currently held by Senator Cory Booker, plus U.S. House of Representatives contests. The community is split between congressional districts, primarily the 9th and 11th. County offices on the 2026 ballot include County Executive, Board of County Commissioners, County Sheriff, and County Clerk, depending on term expirations. New Jersey offers mail-in voting to all registered voters without requiring an excuse. Applications for mail ballots can be submitted online through the Passaic County Clerk's portal or via paper application up to seven days before the election. Mail ballots must be postmarked by election day and received within 48 hours, or delivered to secure ballot drop boxes by 8:00 PM on election day. The city maintains multiple secure drop box locations that are announced before each election.