MANCHESTER, NJ — Early voting is underway for the 2026 election, and in Manchester Township voters will have several choices to make.
In Manchester, voters are being asked to choose a mayor and council members, along with school board members. They also are voting on the 4th District member of the House of Representatives and a commissioner for the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.
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Here is a guide to who's on the ballot and when and where to vote in Manchester.
The Rundown
- Election date: Nov. 3. Polls are open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Check if you are registered to vote.
- Early voting: Runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Read more: Early Voting In Ocean County: See Where To Cast Ballots
- Vote by mail: The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. You must request it in person at the Ocean County Clerk's Office, 118 Washington St., Toms River.
- Where can I drop off my ballot? There are 20 secure dropboxes around Ocean County where you can drop off your ballot.
- Track my mail-in ballot.
- Where can I vote in person? You can find your polling place here. Find out by entering your street address and town.
- Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3, and received by the Board of Elections by Nov. 10.
What And Who Are On The Ballot?
- Manchester Township Mayor and Council: The mayor and council races are nonpartisan. Three candidates are seeking the four-year term as mayor: Kenneth Seda, Joseph T. Hankins and Mariah L. Prokop. Hankins was appointed mayor after Robert Arace stepped down to accept the seat on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, then won the remaining year of Arace's term. He is seeking his first full term. Seda ran for mayor against Arace in 2022. Prokop is a realtor with Defelice Realty Group and a lifelong Manchester resident.
- There are two, three-year terms on the Manchester Township Council, and two candidates: Sandra L. Gravatt-Drake, who is seeking re-election, and Judith L. Noonan, who is seeking her first term on the Manchester council. She served on the council in Berkeley Township before moving to Manchester several years ago.
- Manchester Township Board of Education: There are three, three-year terms up for election on the school board. Incumbents Laura Wingler and Gloria Adkinson are joined by PaulaAnn Fazio under the slogan Putting Kids First. They are opposed by incumbent Timothy Poss, who is running with Paula Nowakowski and Steven Giordano under the slogan Manchester Kids First.
- NJ 4th District Congressional Race: Republican Chris Smith is seeking his 24th term in the House of Representatives. Democrat Rachel Peace is seeking to unseat him. Read more: NJ's 4th District Congressional Race: Smith Vs. Peace
- Ocean County Board of Commissioners: Republican Frank Sadeghi is seeking his second three-year term on the board. He is being challenged by Democrat Kia Phua.