CIVICS Q&A: "Faulkner towns"
8.1.2025
As part of The Conversation we hope to have with voters, we will answer a short question about a point of confusion on American civics that D2DD trustees and members have encountered in the field.
Today's question coincides with an important local election deadline - at least for over 20% of New Jersey's 564 municipalities:
Q: Apparently, my local candidates have until the end of July to submit their election petitions to my municipal authorities. They weren't on the primary ballot at all. I was told that's because my town is a "Faulkner town." What the heck is that?
A: Faulkner towns are municipalities that have organized their town charters in a way that goes beyond New Jersey’s traditional forms of government. The Optional Municipal Charter Act (or Faulkner Act), passed in 1950 and amended in 1981, gives municipalities more freedom and flexibility to organize themselves in the best interests of their citizens, providing them with several additional ways to form their town governments.
While operating under the provisions of the Faulkner Act has many implications for town governance, there can be one specific consequence for municipal elections that confuses many residents of certain Faulkner towns.
Under the Faulkner Act, towns can choose a form of government that requires nonpartisan local elections, so candidates do not run under the banner of a political party. In these cases, there are no partisan primary elections – for obvious reasons. The deadlines for these town candidates to get on the general election ballot are much later, falling on the last Monday of July, not in early spring.
This is very similar to – but not exactly the same as – Board of Education elections everywhere in New Jersey.
For a deeper dive and more information on Faulkner towns, visit the New Jersey League of Municipalities or read the Optional Municipal Charter Act statutes here.
