Millburn Township Residents Take to the Polls for Historic Special Election

By Andrew Kapp Jr. June 13, 2026

Back in November, Millburn residents voted in favor of a Charter Study Commission (see: “Election Results: Charter Study Commission”). After five months of work, 18 public meetings, 40 structured interviews—with Township Committee members, all municipal department heads, and elected officials from comparable New Jersey municipalities operating under different forms of government, the five-member commission voted unanimously to propose that the Millburn Township ought to switch from a Township Committee to a Council-Manager form of government pursuant under the Faulkner Act. 

What’s the Big Deal?

The June 16th special election will determine whether the commission’s recommendation is implemented. The ballot asks voters whether to adopt the Council-Manager Plan: seven council members elected every other year (with staggered terms) in non-partisan elections.

“Shall the COUNCIL-MANAGER PLAN of the Optional Municipal Charter Law, with SEVEN (7) council members to be ELECTED AT-LARGE for STAGGERED terms at NON-PARTISAN elections held in NOVEMBER, with the MAYOR ELECTED BY THE COUNCIL FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS, be adopted by the Township of Millburn?”—the ballot question

A vote yes makes some big changes. For one, current elections are partisan and include primaries, but those would be removed; The council would be much larger (the current Committee has five); it allows initiatives and referendums drafted by resident-made petitions in elections without involving elected officials; the Business Administrator, who is in charge of running day-to-day business operations, would become a Municipal Manager backed by state statute over local ordinance. The council would run policy and elect a mayor just as the prior committee. 

All seven members of the new council would be elected in the general election on November 3, 2026, and the new government would take effect on January 1, 2027. At its first meeting, in order to establish staggered terms, the council would draw lots to determine which four members serve an initial two-year term and which three serve a full four-year term.

The Proposition Argument

Supporters, organized under the Yes Millburn campaign contend that roughly 43% of Millburn's registered voters are unaffiliated and currently excluded from the primary process, and that non-partisan elections would give every voter an equal voice. They further argue that removing party gatekeepers would make it easier for qualified residents to run, that a clearer division between council and manager would improve accountability, and that a larger council would distribute the workload and allow members to develop deeper expertise. 

The Opposition Argument

Opponents from the NO campaign counter that partisanship in elections actually helps inform voters better, while increasing the size of the government from 5 to 7 council members would only raise costs and increase the time needed to make important decisions, and the longer term would simultaneously reduce accountability. Moreover, NO argues that referendum powers—which would be an added provision where residents can petition for different ballot issues (eg, repealing an ordinance) during election season—could be hijacked by special interest and minority groups and weaponized against the broader community. They further argue that the shift to a municipal manager would increase executive power because the committee can no longer technically veto the business administrator. Notably, Millburn voters rejected similar attempts to change the government in the 1970s and again in the early 1990s.

How To Vote

Mail-in ballots were sent to homes earlier at the beginning of May, but physical polling places will be open between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm on June 16th. It’s important to know the polling place and district number to make check-in and participation easier, which can be found here. 

More Information

For more information about the election, you can look at the Charter Commission Study’s recommendation, the Yes Campaign platform, and the No Campaign platform. Millburn Matters will publish another article of the election results. 

Contact

For more questions, comments, and concerns, fell free to reach out at our email shared on the contact page of the Millburn Matters, or email the author directly at andrewjk303@gmail.com.