A Stronger Future for the
Jackson School District

Voter Information

Voters will consider a ballot question that would allow the district to replace expiring school debt from a 2006 referendum with a new investment to stabilize the district’s budget and keep the tax rate steady. 

If you are a registered voter who lives in Jackson, cast your ballot on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026. 

Register to Vote

Make sure your voter registration is up to date. If you previously registered to vote with the same name and Jackson address, you do not need to take action.  

• By Nov. 17: You must be registered with your current name and address. Check your voter registration status here.  

• Register online: Upload your identification documents using this New Jersey Voter Registration webpage.  

• Register by mail: Print out a form in English or Spanish and follow the directions.  

• Questions? Contact the Ocean County Board of Elections for more information at 732-929-2167 

Residents can vote in person on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026. 

Poll times and locations will be updated on this website once determined.  

Apply to vote by mail. To request a vote-by-mail ballot, download this application. The Ocean County Clerk must receive applications submitted by mail by Tuesday, Dec. 1. Voters may also apply in person at the Ocean County Clerk’s Office until 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. 

Return your ballot by Election Day: Completed vote-by-mail ballots may be returned in one of three ways: 

• By mail: Ballots must be postmarked on or before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026. 

• At a secure ballot drop box: Ballots must be placed in an authorized Ocean County ballot drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026. Drop box locations will be added once confirmed. 

• At the Ocean County Board of Elections: Ballots may be delivered in person by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026. 

For more information, please visit the Ocean County Clerk’s election website. 

Please note: Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be submitted at polling places. 

The Ballot Question

The Board of Education of the Township of Jackson in the County of Ocean, New Jersey shall raise an additional $7,786,800 from taxes over the amount to be raised for the subsequent 2027-2028 annual school budget for general operating funds for the subsequent 2027-2028 school year. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the school district’s base general fund tax levy. The taxes authorized herein will be used exclusively for purposes described herein, and to finance expenditures in addition to those necessary to achieve the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

Do you approve this Budgetary Spending Proposal Question?

The Interpretive Statement

The Board of Education of the Township of Jackson in the County of Ocean, New Jersey has lost an aggregate of $139,600,654 in Categorical State Aid since the 2018-2019 annual school budget. As a result, the Board has closed several school facilities, eliminated programs, and cut four hundred eleven (411) teaching and staff positions. To find some relief, the Board of Education has filed a lawsuit against the State of New Jersey seeking, in part, equitable distribution of Categorical State Aid. In addition to the loss of Categorical State Aid, many of the Board of Education’s general fund expenses are increasing faster than the allowable increases permitted by the State’s tax levy cap causing further pressure on the general fund operating budget.

The proposed increase in the general fund operating budget will be fully offset by the decrease in the debt service tax levy for the 2027-2028 annual school budget. If the Budgetary Spending Proposal Question is approved by the voters at this special election, the Board of Education will be authorized to raise an additional $7,786,800 from taxes for the subsequent 2027-2028 annual school budget for general fund operating budget. As indicated, in that same 2027-2028 annual school budget, the Board of Education’s debt service tax levy will decrease by the equivalent amount.

The funds will be used to provide for various purposes, including but not limited to maintaining teachers and staff, transportation, facilities maintenance, curricular programs, athletics and extracurricular activities.

Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the school district’s base general fund tax levy.

Ask for a PROVISIONAL BALLOT if you are told you can’t cast a regular ballot for any reason at the polls. 

Voters occasionally show up at the polls unaware that a vote-by-mail ballot was already sent to them. That’s one of the more common reasons a voter may need to fill out a “provisional” ballot - this ensures the integrity of the election while also preserving legitimate votes.  These ballots are reviewed after polls close and paperwork can be examined more closely. Valid votes will be counted if they are not duplicates. 

Questions? Email Dec8vote@jacksonsd.org