West Windsor Township will hold a non-partisan candidate forum on Thursday, September 25, 2025, starting at 6:45 p.m. at the Kelsey Theatre, located at 1200 Old Trenton Road. This event is the township’s first mayoral forum since 2013 and the first council candidate forum since 2015. It will focus on candidates running on November 4, 2025, the general election for mayor, and two open council seats.
The forum is organized by West Windsor Forward, a local civic group led by residents and two students from the Lawrenceville School, Parth Gupta and Darshan Chidambaram. Their goal is to bring back a clear and direct opportunity for residents to hear from candidates ahead of Election Day.
The event will include a structured question-and-answer session, a town hall segment, and a live-stream option for residents unable to attend in person. Three moderators will guide the discussion. Micah Rasmussen, Director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, brings experience from previous state-level debates. David Matthau, a reporter with WHYY and a former investigative journalist for NJ 101.5 News, will join the panel. Rhea Biswas, a student at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North with a background in political debate and writing for local news, will also provide a unique perspective.
This forum gives voters a chance to learn where candidates stand and ask questions directly before making decisions in the upcoming election.
The 2025 election cycle includes both a primary and general election. The primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Early voting for the primary runs from June 3 to June 8. Polls will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Early voting will be available for the general election from October 25 to November 2, 2025. The general election itself is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4. The same early voting hours apply: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.
Residents can vote by mail, early in person, or on Election Day at their assigned polling location. Registered voters can request a mail-in ballot through the Township Clerk’s Office at 609-799-2400 to vote by mail. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days. They can also be delivered to a secure drop box or in person to the Mercer County Board of Elections.
West Windsor’s secure ballot drop box is located at the West Windsor Municipal Complex, 271 Clarksville Road, between the Municipal Building and the Senior Center.
If voting on Election Day, polling places will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. West Windsor has 16 voting districts with assigned locations, including:
- West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company at 153 South Mill Road
- West Windsor Senior Center at 271 Clarksville Road
- Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company at 245 Clarksville Road
- Liquid Church at 545 Meadow Road
- WWP Regional School District Board Office at 321 Village Road East
Each district has a specific polling location, and voters should check their assignment before Election Day.
Those interested in helping with the election can apply to become poll workers. Mercer County offers full-day and half-day shifts. Applications are available on the county website or by emailing [email protected].
Anyone planning to run for Mayor or Council should note that candidate packets and petitions became available on April 1, 2025. Petitions can be requested by filling out a form and emailing it to [email protected].
Following the passage of P.L. 2025, c. 20, the required number of signatures on candidate petitions has changed. For example, a candidate running for Governor must now gather 2,000 signatures. A candidate for the General Assembly needs 250. If candidates had already collected signatures on outdated forms before this law took effect, those signatures would still be accepted.
The deadline to change party affiliation before the primary is April 16, 2025. The last day to register to vote in the primary is May 20, 2025. Voter registration forms can be found online or by calling the Township Clerk’s Office.
