What the heck is a County Clerk?

The County Clerk’s office in New Jersey maintains all of the property records and deeds in the county, and it’s who you see to get a passport or take your oath to become a Notary Public, but a crucial responsibility that touches all of us is they help administer our elections.

County Clerks
County Clerks

Here’s more in a nutshell -

Elections:

Voter Registration: The County Clerk manages voter registration and maintains the voter rolls for the county. They ensure that voter information is accurate and up to date.

Election Administration:

  • Candidate filings and ballot petitions — the County Clerk receives signed petitions and candidate filing documents for county and local elections

  • Mail-in/Vote by mail ballot processing — receiving, tracking, and processing mail-in ballot applications and returned ballots

  • Election results certification — certifying official election results at the county level

  • Primary and general election coordination with the Board of Elections

Record Keeping:

Deeds and Property Records: The County Clerk maintains records of property transactions, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. These records are essential for property ownership and real estate transactions.

Licensing:

Business and Professional Licenses: The County Clerk issues various licenses and permits, including those for businesses and professionals, such as notaries public.

Legal and Administrative Duties:

Court Documents: The County Clerk manages and files various legal documents related to civil and criminal cases, including judgments and other court records.

County Records: They handle other official county documents and records as required by state law or county regulations.

Record Accessibility: The County Clerk ensures that the public has access to records and information that are legally required to be available. They often provide services such as record searches and copies of documents.

Honorable Discharge/DD214 Registration, Identification Cards

Register Honorable Discharge Papers and Form DD-214

Issue a photo ID card listing the veteran’s address, and the book and page number where a record of the veteran’s documents are permanently stored in the County Clerk’s Office.

Veterans Vending Licenses

Honorably discharged veterans may apply for a Veteran Vending License. There is no charge for this service. You must apply in person to the Clerk’s Office.