Hawthorne, New Jersey Public Records

New Jersey's bail reform laws have shifted the focus from cash bail to risk assessment, which means pretrial release decisions are now made based on whether someone poses a flight risk or danger to the community rather than their ability to pay.

New Jersey residents can register online through the State of New Jersey Online Voter Registration system at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register, though you'll need a valid New Jersey driver's license or state ID card. The registration deadline falls 21 days before any election, though recent state law changes now allow same-day registration during the early voting period and on Election Day at designated locations. Municipal elections in Hawthorne follow New Jersey's partisan system for borough government. Voters elect a Mayor and six Council members, with two representatives from each of three wards. The Mayor serves a four-year term while Council members work staggered three-year terms, with elections taking place in May as part of the state's municipal election cycle. The next mayoral election is scheduled for May 2026. Local ballot questions, bond referenda, and ward-specific issues may also appear on municipal ballots. Residents can get information about local candidates, ballot questions, and municipal election dates through the Borough Clerk's Office at 973-427-5194 and the Passaic County Board of Elections. Voters can look up their assigned polling place using the New Jersey Division of Elections polling place search tool at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search by entering their residential address. New Jersey implemented early in-person voting beginning in 2021, with designated locations in Passaic County open during the nine days prior to Election Day (10 days including Election Day). During the November 2024 presidential election, Passaic County reported voter turnout of approximately 60-65% of registered voters, reflecting strong engagement in the presidential contest. Passaic County has approximately 300,000 registered voters countywide. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in Hawthorne and across Passaic County will decide several significant races. New Jersey holds gubernatorial elections in odd-numbered years (most recently 2025), so the 2026 ballot will focus on federal legislative seats and local or county positions. New Jersey's U.S. Senate seats are staggered; in 2026, voters will elect one U.S. Senator (Class II seat) and all members of New Jersey's U.S. House of Representatives delegation (Hawthorne is in Congressional District 9). All 40 seats in the New Jersey State Senate and all 80 seats in the General Assembly will be on the ballot, as the state holds legislative elections in odd-numbered years following redistricting and then in the subsequent odd year. County-level positions including Passaic County Freeholders (Board of County Commissioners), county clerk, sheriff, and surrogate may appear depending on term schedules. Voters should consult the Passaic County Board of Elections for the complete certified candidate list as the election approaches. New Jersey offers mail-in voting (formerly called absentee voting) to all registered voters without requiring an excuse. Voters can request a mail-in ballot online through the New Jersey Mail-In Ballot Application portal at https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/applications/absentee or by submitting a written application to the Passaic County Board of Elections. Mail-in ballot applications must be received by the Passaic County Board by 7 days before the election for mail delivery, or voters can apply in person until 3 p.m. the day before the election. Completed mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 48 hours after polls close, or delivered to a secure ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop box locations are published on the Passaic County elections website. Public election records in New Jersey include voter registration statistics (though individual voter registration information is restricted), campaign finance reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) at www.elec.nj.gov, candidate petition filings maintained by Passaic County Clerk, and certified election results by municipality and district. Precinct-level results for the borough are published by the Passaic County Board of Elections following certification. Campaign finance disclosures for state and county candidates are searchable online through ELEC's database, providing transparency into contributions and expenditures for all major campaigns.