Know Monroe

Monroe Township, the southernmost municipality in Middlesex County, is approximately 43 square miles in land area. The Township’s boundaries include the Boroughs of Spotswood, Jamesburg, and Helmetta, and the Townships of South Brunswick, Old Bridge, and East Brunswick in Middlesex County.

Know more:

Population

As of the 2010 Census, Monroe Township had a population of 39,132:

Under 18 -- 18.9%
18-24 -- 4.6%
25-44 -- 17%
45-64 -- 24.8%
65+ -- 34.8%

The current estimate of population is 45,000.

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 29,992 registered voters in Monroe Township (38.7% Democrats, 18.2% Republicans, and 1% unaffiliated).

The Median Household Income is approx. $74,200. About 3.9% of the population is below the poverty line.

Government

Monroe Township is in the 12th U.S. Congressional District and is part of New Jersey’s 14th State Legislative District.

The township is in Middlesex County, which is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose 7 members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve 3-year terms of office. Either 2 or 3 seats come up for election every year as part of the November general election.

The township is governed under the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal governments. It is one of 71 NJ municipalities governed under this system. The governing body consists of a citizen-elected mayor and a 5-member township council, all elected as part of the November general election. Each is elected for a 4-year term. For profiles of the current mayor and town council members, click here.

Township Boards, Commissions and Committees

Following is an alphabetical list of boards and commissions, each with a brief description, meeting dates/times and contact information. Meetings are subject to change, so check the Township calendar for updates (click on Calendar at the top of the Monroe Township News page). For more information about board members and minutes of meetings, click here.

ADA Committee ensures that the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act are upheld. The committee meets 3 times a year, on the 1st Thursday of March, June and September, at 10 AM in the courtroom of the Municipal Building. To contact the committee, call 732-521-4000.
Affordable Housing Board administers the Township’s housing element and fair share plan in compliance with the Fair Housing Act and the Mount Laurel Doctrine. The board meets 4 times a year on January 15 and on the 2nd Wednesday of April, July and October at 7 PM. To contact the board, call 732-521-4000, ext.166.
Cable Television Advisory Committee monitors the regulations of the Township’s cable franchise currently held by Comcast and Verizon Fios. The is no regular meeting schedule. To contact the committee, call 732-521-4000.
Commission on Aging represents the needs of Township senior citizens and works to achieve the goals of the Office on Aging. The commission meets at the Senior Center at 9 AM on the 2nd Wednesday of March, May, June, September, October and November; and on the 3rd Wednesday of February and April. To contact the commission, call 609-448-7140.
Cultural Arts Commission establishes and improves programs, projects and events to foster cultural arts in the Township. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7 PM in the conference room of the Municipal Building. To contact the commission, call 732-521-4400, ext.134.
Environmental Commission acts as local watchdog for environmental problems and opportunities and advises the Township, Planning Board and Zoning Board of adjustments. The commission works to protect the use of natural resources, including open space preservation, water resource management, air pollution control, solid waste management, noise control, storm water management, soil and landscape protection, and protection of flora and fauna in general. Meetings are held on the 1st Monday of every month at 7 PM on the lower level of the Municipal Building. To contact the commission, call 732-521-4400.
Historic Preservation Commission fosters and enhances pride in historic sites, buildings and objects. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of every month at 7 PM on the lower level of the Municipal Building. To contact the commission, call 732-521-4400.
Human Relations Committee makes recommendations to help eliminate all types of discrimination based on, but not limited to: race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, ethnicity, health, age, marital status, sexual orientation or gender; or the perception of these qualities. Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except July and August) at 4:30 PM in the courtroom of the Municipal Building. To contact the committee, call 732-521-4400.
Library Board of Trustees helps to ensure that the Township’s public library provides services and materials that fulfill the educational, informational, cultural and recreational needs of Monroe’s residents. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the library’s conference room. To contact the board, call 732-521-5000.
Open Space and Farmland Preservation Commission establishes, promotes and protects open space and farmland preservation in the Township. Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of February, May, August and November at 7 PM in the lower level conference room of the Municipal Building. To contact the commission, call 732-521-4400.
Planning Board is responsible for guiding the growth and development of the Township. It ensures adherence to the Township’s approved Master Plan and Municipal Land Use laws. Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month (November meeting will be held on December 2 and there will be no December meeting) at 7 PM in the courtroom of the Municipal Building. To contact the board, call 732-521-4400.
Recreation Advisory Board provides a forum for our recreational professionals, facilities maintenance specialists, recreational league coordinators and community organizations to report and discuss the status and conditions of their respective venues. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7 PM in the Community Center. No meeting in July or August. To contact the board, call 732-723-5000.
Shade Tree Commission regulates the planning, care and protection of trees and shrubbery within the Right of Way and parks in the Township. Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of February, April, June, August, October and December at 7 PM in the conference room of the Municipal building. To contact the commission, call 732-521-4400.
Task Force works to formulate a long-term plan to ensure the continued preservation of the preserved farmland, wooded forests, flood plains and wetlands located between Spotswood Englishtown Road and Spotswood Gravel Hill Road. No scheduled meetings. To contact the Task Force, call 732-521-4400.
Green Team Advisory Committee advises the Township on means to enhance municipal operations with initiatives to promote and protect clean land, air and water. Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM in conference room in the Library. To contact the committee, call 732-521-4400
Zoning Board is a quasi-judicial, 9-member board appointed by the Township Council. The board enforces compliance with zoning ordinances that limit and regulate buildings and structures according to types and use. It also maintains the standards for planned developments; grants relief from provisions of the Municipal Land Use Law due to the exceptional topography shape of a property; and, grants variances from zoning laws. Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 PM in the courtroom of the Municipal Building. No meeting in December. To contact the committee, call 732-521-4000.

Schools

The Monroe Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

For the 2020 school year, the district and its 8 schools have an enrollment of 6,639 students. This includes about 300 students from Jamesburg, who attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship established in 1980.

Rising enrollment has caused both the middle school and high school to exceed capacity. At the middle school, the district currently rents 10 temporary classroom trailers (as a cost of approx $1million/year). Referendums in 2018 and 2019 for a budget to build an addition to the high school and build an additional middle school were defeated.

The teacher/student ratio is 13.1:1. The district’s graduation rate is 96%.

The Monroe Township School District is ranked within the top 30% of all 656 school districts in NJ.

The district’s revenue per student is $15,903 (less than the state average of $20,704). The district’s spending per student is $21,601 (higher than the state average of $21,080).

Voting

The League of Women Voters provides a wonderful website …Vote411.org… to keep you informed of your national, state and local representatives, your designated polling place, and candidates and positions for any upcoming election. Just access Vote411.org and enter your ZIP Code.

Registering to Vote In New Jersey

The registration deadline to vote in the next election is 21 days prior to the election day.

To register in New Jersey, you must be:

A United States citizen
At least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you have reached the age of 18
A resident of the county for 30 days before the election
A person NOT currently serving a sentence, probation or parole because of a felony conviction. Note: If you are a pre-trial detainee or on bail pending appeal, you do not lose your right to vote.

You are not eligible to register to vote if:

You are serving a sentence or on parole or probation, as a result of a conviction of an indictable offense under state or federal law. You only lose your right to vote while on parole, probation or serving a sentence due to a conviction for an indictable offense under any federal or state laws.

Note: If you are no longer serving a sentence, or no longer on parole or probation, you CAN vote in NJ by completing a new voter registration form.

If you were registered to vote before you were convicted, you must complete a new voter registration form once you have served your time.

To register:

Complete a Voter Registration Application and/or Party Affiliation Form. Access Voter Registration Application Forms (available in 5 languages), and then scroll down to the list of forms by county to click on "Middlesex County".
Mail or deliver the Voter Registration Application and/or Party Affiliation Form to the County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections for Middlesex County.

When you register to vote, you can also declare an affiliation with a party (e.g. Republican or Democrat) or not. Unaffiliated voters cannot vote in a primary election, but can vote in a general election.

Voting by Mail

Anyone registered to vote in New Jersey can elect to vote by mail for a single election or all future elections. Once approved for vote-by-mail, your ballot arrives by mail a few weeks prior to election day. You return your marked ballot by mail (postage-free), by the date requested.

A voter may vote by mail by:

Completing the Application for Vote by Mail Ballot. Access the Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, then scroll down and click on “Middlesex County”.
Returning the application to your County Clerk. Access the list of county clerks, then scroll down and click on “Middlesex County”.

Other things you should know:

To receive your ballot by mail, the application must be received by the County Clerk 7 days prior to the election.
A voter may also apply in person to the County Clerk until 3:00 p.m., the day before the election.
The County Clerk cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of a Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, unless you are a Military or Overseas Voter, since an original signature is required.
Anyone with a valid ID (e.g. driver’s license or U.S. Passport) can assist you in filling out and mailing a mail-in ballot. The ballot and envelope have spaces for the assistant to fill in his or her name and address.

Who Can Vote in a Primary Election

New Jersey is a closed primary state. This means that only voters who affiliate with a political party may vote in that party's candidate selection process (i.e., only voters registered as Democrats can vote for Democratic nominees in a primary election, and only voters registered as Republicans can vote for Republican nominees in a primary election). However, unaffiliated voters may declare their party affiliation up to and including the day of the primary election.

NOTE: The above is only true for a primary election. In a general election, any registered voter--whether they are affiliated with a party or are unaffiliated--can vote for any candidate of any party.

Winners in New Jersey primary elections are determined via plurality vote, meaning that the candidate with the highest number of votes wins even if he or she did not win more than 50 percent of votes cast.