Camden Elections Board Requires Candidate Forums Across All 12 Wards Before 2026

The Camden Board of Elections approved rules on July 3 that require every candidate for city council in the 2026 municipal elections to attend three public forums. The policy covers all 12 wards and applies to the filing period that closes August 1. Residents in neighborhoods such as Cramer Hill and Parkside will receive notices listing dates and locations through the city clerk's office.

The decision follows the county clerk's report on 2024 turnout of 32 percent in Camden municipal contests. Local government analysts point to the need for structured opportunities for candidates to address ward-specific issues before ballots are printed. The forums must occur between August 15 and October 31 at city-owned facilities.

Under the rules, each forum will allocate 90 minutes for questions on local services. Residents in the North Camden ward, for example, can ask about the allocation of the $4.2 million public safety line item listed in the 2025 city budget. Similar sessions in the South Camden ward will cover the proposed increase in the municipal property tax levy.

Details Released on Forum Schedule and Locations

The city clerk's office has published the first round of dates on its website. The initial forum for wards 1 through 4 is set for August 18 at the Camden Community Center on Market Street. Two additional sessions per ward grouping will rotate among the city's three public libraries. Policy analysts note that the schedule gives candidates 45 days after the filing deadline to prepare responses to resident-submitted questions collected through an online portal.

Community advocates have requested that each forum include time for discussion of the $1.8 million allocated for street repairs in the current capital plan. The Board of Elections confirmed that transcripts of every session will be posted within 72 hours on the city website for residents who cannot attend in person.

Next Steps for Candidates and Voters

Candidates who fail to appear at the required forums will have that fact noted on the sample ballot mailed to every registered household. The Board of Elections projects that 48 candidates will appear on the November ballot across the 12 wards. The final forum dates for wards 9 through 12 are scheduled for October 22 at the Paul Robeson Library on the Rutgers-Camden campus.

Residents can submit questions for the forums through the city clerk until seven days before each event. The process is expected to conclude with the distribution of printed voter guides on October 25 that summarize candidate statements from the transcripts.