WoodstownNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Woodstown Borough Council Election 2026

2 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting begins (Oct 24): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters choose two of four candidates for three-year Borough Council terms. The mayor is not on the 2026 ballot.

Early voting begins · Oct 24

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Short-term rentals4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council withdrew its first short-term rental ordinance in September 2026 and introduced Ordinance 2026-12, under which short-term rentals stay prohibited unless licensed.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to adopt short-term rental licensing and zoning rules.

02Data centers3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council adopted Ordinance 2026-8, confirming that data centers are prohibited uses in all zoning districts.

What's on the tableThe next council will enforce and could amend the borough's land use rules, including the data center prohibition.

03Water system and rates3 sourced facts

Where it standsSince August 2025 the borough has leased its water system to the Woodstown Borough Municipal Utilities Authority.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the lease and decide how much borough staff help the authority, such as with meter readings.

04Budget and borrowing4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026 budget in June 2026 and in August 2026 approved a $899,000 bond ordinance for capital improvements.

What's on the tableThe next council will adopt the 2027 budget and decide on further capital borrowing.

05Memorial Lake2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe borough pursued a Memorial Lake shoreline restoration project with Rutgers in 2024, and in 2026 the engineer advised continuing maintenance on the Memorial Lake Dam.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide on lake maintenance, dam repairs and park projects.

3 notes on these statements

Heather Bobbitt and James R. Hackett (listed by the borough as Jim Hackett) hold the two council seats whose terms end in December 2026. Borough of Woodstown

The official sample ballot lists Heather Bobbitt and James R. Hackett as Republicans and Shane Godshall and Alexander Dominy as Democrats, vote for two. Salem County Clerk

Mayor Joseph Hiles is not on the 2026 ballot; the borough lists his term as ending in December 2027. Borough of Woodstown

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should Woodstown allow short-term rentals?

  2. 2. Should data centers stay banned in Woodstown?

  3. 3. Should the borough keep its water system leased to the Municipal Utilities Authority?

  4. 4. Should Woodstown exceed the state budget cap to fund services?

  5. 5. Should the borough borrow to pay for capital improvements?

  6. 6. Should the borough pursue the Memorial Lake shoreline stabilization project?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted10 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Joseph Hiles, Bertha Hyman, Glenn Merkle, Jaclyn Morris, Jesse Stemberger2 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • Woodstown uses the borough form of government; the council is the legislative body and the mayor presides, voting only in the event of a tie. Wikipedia
  • The mayor is elected directly to a four-year term, and the six council members serve staggered three-year terms, with two seats up each year. Wikipedia
  • All positions are elected at-large on a partisan basis in the November general election. Wikipedia
  • The council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Hall, 25 West Ave. Borough of Woodstown

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