The township is one of 30 municipalities (of the 565) statewide that use the commission form of government. The governing body is comprised of three commissioners, who are elected at-large in non-partisan elections held every four years as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. Each of the Commissioners is designated as the head of a designated department, with the mayor presiding over meetings but having no executive role. Mayor Deborah Buzby-Cope (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance),  Deputy Mayor Nicholas Capriglione (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety) and  Louis Bourguignon (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property). Like other municipalities in New Jersey without a local police department, Bass River Township is served by troopers from the New Jersey State Police Troop C which maintains a barrack in Tuckerton. The New Jersey State Park Police, which operates a station in Washington Township, is responsible for any matters occurring within state forests. The New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company provides fire protection for all of Bass River Township. Additionally the Fire Company provides rescue services and operates an EMS First Response vehicle for medical emergencies. Bass River Township is served by Great Bay Regional Volunteer EMS, which also provides primary 911 emergency medical services for the residents of Little Egg Harbor Township and Eagleswood Township. Bass River Township is located in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Bass River Township had been part of the , a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections. As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 892 registered voters in Bass River Township, of which 187 (21.0% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 291 (32.6% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 413 (46.3% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There as one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 61.8% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 77.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 371 votes (59.0% vs. 40.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 236 votes (37.5% vs. 58.1%) and other candidates with 15 votes (2.4% vs. 1.0%), among the 629 ballots cast by the township's 945 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.6% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).