Who Is On The Ballot In Maplewood? (2025 Election Guide)

MAPLEWOOD, NJ —A highly watched governor race is sure to bring many Maplewood residents to the polls on Tuesday. But there will be plenty of other choices for local voters to make in the 2025 general election – including a school board race.

The Essex County Clerk’s Office has released sample ballots for Maplewood, which can be seen here. Find your local polling place here.

There are six candidates competing for three open seats on the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education, which covers both towns. Terms last for three years. The candidates are: Malini Nayar, Paul Stephan, Meredith Higgins, Daniel Caplan, Ashley Donahue, and Ashwat Rishi.

Jane Collins-Colding is running unopposed as a Democrat for a three-year term on the Maplewood Township Committee. No Republican nomination was made.

Here are some other races that Maplewood voters will be asked to cast ballots for:

NJ GOVERNOR –Candidates appearing on the ballot for New Jersey governor include Jack Ciattarelli (Republican), Mikie Sherrill (Democrat), Vic Kaplan (Libertarian Party) and Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party). Candidates running write-in campaigns include Lily Benavides (Green Party). The term lasts for four years.

NJ ASSEMBLY, 28th DISTRICT (vote for two) – There are two Democratic candidates running unopposed for a state assembly seat in the 28th district: Cleopatra G. Tucker, and Chigozie Onyema. No Republicans filed to run. Terms last for two years.

ESSEX COUNTY CLERK – Local voters will also get to cast a ballot in the race for Essex County Clerk. The candidates are Martitza Mathews (Republican) and Christopher J. Durkin (Democrat). The term lasts for five years.

HOW TO VOTE

There are three ways to vote in the 2025 general election in New Jersey. Here’s what options are available for Essex County residents, according to the clerk’s office:

Vote By Mail – The last day to apply by mail for a Vote-By-Mail Ballot is Oct. 28. Voters can also apply in person to the clerk's office on any day up to 3 p.m. the day before an election. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before 8 p.m. on Election Day. See a list of secure drop boxes in Essex County here. Learn more about the voting by mail process in Essex County here.

Early Voting – Early in-person voting for 2025 general election took place from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2.

Election Day – Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, which takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

See the Essex County Clerk’s 2025 guide to voting here. Find out how to become a poll worker in Essex County here. Watch a video that shows how to vote in Essex County here (English and Spanish versions available). Learn more about voting in New Jersey here.

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