Newark 2024 School Election: Candidates, Voting Age, Dates, Forum

NEWARK, NJ — The 2024 Newark school election is just around the corner, with a voter registration deadline set for Tuesday, March 26.

Newark’s board of education election will take place on Tuesday, April 16. See a 2024 Guide To Voting from the Essex County Clerk’s Office here. Learn more about voting in New Jersey or find your local polling place here.

Last year, just over 3 percent of registered voters turned in a ballot for Newark’s school election – a number that advocates have been fighting to improve over the years.

CANDIDATES

There are nine candidates competing for three general seats in the Newark Board of Education:

• Che J.T. Colter
• Muta El-Amin
• Dawn Y. Haynes (incumbent)
• Latoya Jackson
• Sheila Montague
• Debra Salters
• Vereliz Santana (incumbent)
• Helena Vinhas (incumbent)
• Jimmie White

Another candidate, Kanileah Anderson, is running unopposed in a special election for an unexpired at-large seat on the board, which was left vacant when former board member Asia Norton resigned. See Related: Newark School Board Has 2 New Members; Vinhas, Anderson Sworn-In

NEW VOTING AGE

Earlier this year, the Newark City Council gave a final green light to an ordinance that lowers the voting age for Newark Board of Education elections from 18 to 16.

However, 16 and 17-year-olds who were hoping to vote in Newark’s school board election in 2024 will have to wait to cast their first ballot.

“We will not be ready for 2024 because of the startup time needed to program the voting registration machines and equipment,” Newark City Clerk Kecia Daniels told recently Patch.

“The equipment no only needs programing, but also testing to ensure its fully operational and that takes time,” Daniels said, adding that the city continues to work with county and state partners to make the switch.

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

KEY DATES

The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 Newark school election is Tuesday, March 26.

The last day to apply by mail for a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday, April 9.

Vote-by-mail ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by Election Day, and received by the county board of elections on or before the designated date at the time of the current election after the close of the polls.

For information about voting by mail or to obtain a vote by mail ballot, visit the Essex County Clerk website.

For questions or information about voter registration, call the Voter Registration office at (973) 621-5030.

CANDIDATE FORUM

Newark-based nonprofit Project Ready, Chalkbeat and other community partners will hold a candidate forum for the Newark Board of Education election at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 at the Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington Street.

Newark voters can submit questions for the candidates ahead of time here.

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