16 And Voting: Landmark Registration Drive Begins In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — A campaign is underway to get thousands of new voters on the rolls in Newark ahead of the 2025 board of education election – and many of them will be casting ballots for issues impacting their own schools.

Last year, Newark became the first city in New Jersey to lower the voting age to 16 for local school board elections. An estimated 7,000 additional teens in the state’s largest city will now be able to cast a ballot for board of education members. Read More: Newark First In NJ To Lower Voting Age To 16 For School Elections

This year’s school board election on April 15 will be the first chance to walk into a voting booth for many 16- and 17-year-olds in the city.

The deadline to register to vote in the 2025 Newark school board election is March 25. Learn more about voting in New Jersey here.

Earlier this week, the Newark Public School District kicked off a “15+ Voter Registration Drive,” providing students with voter registration opportunities during lunch periods at each of the district’s high schools. The campaign will continue until March 20.

“Empowering our students to participate in the democratic process is a vital step in preparing them to be engaged citizens,” Board of Education President Hasani Council said.

“Our district is committed to ensuring that every eligible student has the opportunity to register and make their voices heard,” Council said.

TOWN HALL

The City of Newark and local nonprofit New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ) hosted a “Vote16 Town Hall” at Bethany Baptist Church on Saturday.

Attendees learned about how 16- and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote in the upcoming school board election. They also received voting information and were able to register to vote onsite.

“Our students are our future, and there is no better way to have a say in your future than through civic engagement,” Newark School Superintendent Roger León said.

“I am so proud of all of our students who we will register to vote and will show up in April to have their voices heard about the issues that impact their everyday lives,” León said.

“At a time when democracy is under fierce attack, Newark is taking an affirmative step to expand and strengthen our democracy by getting young people involved,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“This April, Newark’s 16- and 17-year-olds will have a say in who makes decisions that affect them every day – from what they learn, to school safety, to discrimination issues – even to school lunches,” the mayor said. “We need young voices now more than ever, and it is my hope that participating in this process will help establish a lifelong habit of civic responsibility.”

Baraka – who is running for governor in 2025 – delivered a video message to students, telling them that they are “embracing a new power” and taking a “critical step to defend democracy.” Watch the video here or view it below.

Other supporters of the Vote16 Town Hall included:

U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver – “VOTE16 is a program close to my heart, and I am so proud to address the next generation of change makers. Your vote is your voice and our democracy is stronger, more diverse, and more representative when everyone’s voice is heard. Young people are our future, and I can’t wait to see what they achieve.”

NJISJ president and CEO Ryan Haygood – “This April, we will strengthen our democracy by allowing more young people to vote in Newark’s school board election. There are more than 7,000 16- and 17-year-olds, 90 percent of whom are Black and Brown, who are eligible to participate in the democratic process this spring. The Town Hall this weekend was one way we are trying to reach more young people to ensure their voices are heard this election.”

While many are enthusiastic about the campaign to register these new voters, others say more oversight is needed. Concerns have been raised by a handful of Newarkers over the process's transparency and the absence of parental involvement, TAPinto Newark reported.

Not everyone is on board with lowering the voting age, either.

A study from 2012 said that the main argument made against lowering the voting age is that young people under 18 “lack the ability and motivation to participate effectively in the electoral process.”

Another study authored by a professor of law at Boston University in 2020 said there are two main risks to lowering the voting age to 16: giving politicians and lobbyists more access to juveniles, and undermining the “protective commitments” that are made to youth in school, in the justice system and in the child welfare system.

But supporters of lowering the voting age are challenging the assumption that a 16-year-old is too immature to be trusted with an enormous responsibility such as voting.

According to the sponsors of Newark's ordinance, 16 and 17 year-olds are already entrusted with driving, paying taxes and working. They are also allowed to make financial contributions to a political campaign, volunteer in political campaigns, serve as poll workers, write letters to officials and attend political rallies.

In 2023, the NJISJ released a report that pushed to lower the voting age statewide – for all elections in New Jersey.

Several high school and college students in New Jersey spoke to the NJISJ as part of its study, urging their fellow Garden State residents to take up the call.

“If kids are old enough to be forced to give birth, they should have the right to vote for or against the policies affecting them,” college student Lelah Tekhna said.

Another argument for lowering the voting age? Taxation without representation, an unnamed high school student told the NJISJ.

“16- and 17-year-olds are old enough to work and be taxed, but currently have no say in laws or policies that affect them,” the youth said.

Other young supporters of the campaign include high school student Sam Altman, who urged Baby Boomers to remember their own experience during the Vietnam War. The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971.

“The students in the Vietnam era protested to lower the voting age to 18 because 18-year-olds were being sent off to die without a voice,” Altman said. “Well now, 16- and 17-year-olds are being killed and attacked literally and figuratively without a seat at the table. They are pawns on the political table, without a means to protect themselves.”

• See Related: Newark’s New Voting Age Law Hits Snag As 2024 Election Nears

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