League of Women Voters of Camden County A non-partisan organization, promoting political responsibility through informed and active participation in government.

2010 Camden County Guide
to Elections & Government

On this page:

   See also (on other pages)

• Voter registration.
• Election calendar.
• Elections -- The purposes and logic of specific elections.
• Links to various resources.

   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 will have 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.

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 sends one Representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for a term of two years.   All 13 Representatives are elected in even-numbered years.

Camden County includes parts of 3 Congressional Districts:

1st Congressional District: Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Berlin Borough, Berlin Twp., Brooklawn, Camden City, Chesilhurst, Clementon, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Gloucester City, Gloucester Twp., Haddon Heights, Haddon Twp., Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Merchantville, Mt. Ephraim, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Pine Hill, Pine Valley, Runnemede, Somerdale, Stratford, Tavistock, Voorhees, Winslow, Woodlynne, and 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, 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: Clementon, Gloucester Twp., Laurel Springs, Lindenwold and parts of Gloucester County.

District 5: Audubon, Barrington, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Camden, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Hi-Nella, Lawnside, Magnolia, Mt. Ephraim, Runnemede, Somerdale, Stratford, Woodlynne and parts of Gloucester County.

District 6: Audubon Park, Berlin Borough, Berlin Twp., Cherry Hill, Chesilhurst, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Haddon Twp., Haddonfield, Oaklyn, Pine Hill, Pine Valley, Tavistock, Voorhees, Waterford, and Winslow..

District 7: Merchantville, Pennsauken and parts of 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, which is two years). Present senators’ terms end in January 2012. (5th District Senator Norcross was appointed -- he is up for re-election in fall 2010).

Camden County's Representatives to the New Jersey General Assembly

The General Assembly has eighty members, two elected from each district. All the members are elected at the same time in odd-numbered years for terms of two years. (5th District Assemblyman Wilson was appointed -- he is up for re-election in fall 2010).