2012 Camden County Guide
to Elections & Government:

   How are empty seats filled in New Jersey?

When a member of the New Jersey legislature (Assembly or Senate) leaves before his or her term is up (whether by resignation, death, or removal from office), normally the party that he or she represents will appoint a successor, who serves until the next general election. If the office had been vacated during the last year of the term, then the November election is like any other end of term election, and the appointee can run to retain the seat for a regular term. But even if that election is not the end of the original term, the appointee must still run if he or she wants to retain the seat for the remainder of the original term. Then, at the end of the original term, the seat is again up for election. If the vacancy occurs less than 51 days before the November election, the appointee will serve until the following year's election.

For example, in 2009 State Senator Dana Redd was elected Mayor of Camden. Upon taking that post in 2010, she resigned her legislative seat. Newly-elected Assembly Member Donald Norcross was tapped by the party to replace her as state Senator. Gilbert "Whip" Wilson, Camden Council Member, was appointed to the Assembly to replace Norcross. Both of these legislators had to run for election in the June primary and in the November general election in order to retain their seats for the remainder of the term they are completing. (Both won).

For a national Senator, the Governor typically appoints a replacement, who must run to retain the seat at the next general election. If the next election is within 30 days of the vacancy, the appointee would retain the seat until the second election after appointment. For example, in January 2006, after Senator Jon Corzine left his seat to become Governor, Congressman Bob Menendez was appointed to the Senate by the Governor to replace him. Senator Menendez then had to run in the primary and general elections to retain the seat. Since this was the last year of Senator Corzine's term, Senator Menendez was re-elected that November to a full 6-year term.

Technically, the Governor does not have to appoint a replacement and could let the seat be vacant until the relevant election, but in practice Governors value the opportunity to appoint a US Senator. The Governor also has the right to call a special election.

For US Representatives (members of Congress) there is no appointment made -- the seat is vacant until the next election. Thus, in January 2006, after Congressman Menendez was appointed to the Senate by the Governor, having served a year of that House term, his 13th district Congressional seat was vacated. That November there were two simultaneous elections -- one to fill the remaining 2 months of his term (November to January) and the other to take his seat for the regular two year term starting in January 2007. New Jersey Assembly Member Albio Sires won both elections, against different opponents!

Local vacancies (town Council and the like) are generally filled by the party. Note that whereas the large majority of legislators at the state and national levels are elected to their posts (many having held the seat for years), at the local level resignations and appointments are very common, and a substantial number of officeholders at any given time may be appointees.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

New Jersey's U.S. Senators

Two Senators are elected from the state. Term - six years.  Senatorial terms are staggered.

Camden County's Members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Each of the 13 congressional districts in New Jersey (12 as of 2012) sends one Representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for a term of two years.   All Representatives are elected in even-numbered years.

Redistricting note:
The districts shown below are the current ones. Your representative to contact for advocacy or constituent services is determined by these districts until the new officials take office in January, 2013.

On the other hand, voting in primary and general elections in 2012 will be determined by the new districts. The only change for Camden County residents is that Cherry Hill will be in District 1, not District 3 for the elections this year and for representation starting January 2013 through the next redistricting. This change means that all of Camden County except Waterford will be in District 1. Waterford will remain in District 2. There will be no parts of this county in district 3.

Camden County currently includes parts of 3 Congressional Districts:

1st Congressional District: All of Camden County except for Cherry Hill Township (now District 3, but will join District 1 for elections in 2012) and Waterford Township (district 2), plus parts of Burlington and Gloucester Counties.

2nd Congressional District: Waterford Twp., Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Salem County, and parts of Burlingon and Gloucester Counties.

3d Congressional District: Cherry Hill (see note above -- Cherry Hill residents will vote with District 1 in 2012 and be represented by the winner of those votes starting in 2013), and parts of Burlington and Ocean Counties.

NEW JERSEY STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

   Governor

  The Governor is elected for a term of 4 years. The current term ends in January 2014.

  In 2009 for the first time, New Jersey elected a Lieutenant Governor. For more on this new position, read the LWVNJ's comment here.

   New Jersey Legislative Districts in Camden County

   The state of New Jersey has 40 Legislative Districts.  Camden County includes parts of 4 Districts:

District 4: Chesilhurst, Clementon, Gloucester Twp, Laurel Springs, Lindenwold, Winslow Twp, and parts of Gloucester County (Monroe Twp, Pitman, and Washingtown Twp).

District 5: Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Camden City, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Lawnside, Magnolia, Mount Ephraim, Runnemede, Woodlynne, and parts of Gloucester County (Deptford Twp, Harrison Twp, Mantua Twp, Wenonah, Westville, Woodbury).

District 6: Berlin Twp, Cherry Hill Twp, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon Twp, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Merchantville, Oaklyn, Pennsauken Twp, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock, Voorhees Twp, and one town in Burlington County (Maple Shade Twp)

District 8: Berlin Boro, Pine Hill, Pine Valley, Waterford Twp, and many towns in Burlington County.

Camden County's State Senators

The New Jersey Senate has forty members, one elected from each legislative district. All are elected at the same time, for a term of four years (except for the term following each census, beginning in January of the year ending in 2, which is two years). Thus, elections for state Senators occur in years ending in 1, 3, and 7. Their terms end (and new ones start) in January of years ending in 2, 4, and 8. Present senators’ terms end in January 2012.