Newark 2024 School Election Is Here (What To Know For Tuesday)

NEWARK, NJ — The 2024 Newark school election will take place on Tuesday, April 16. This year, there are several open seats on the board of education.

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.

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.

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

CANDIDATE FORUM

Project Ready, Chalkbeat, the New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition and the Gem Project held a candidate forum earlier this month. Watch the video below.

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 was Tuesday, March 26.

The last day to apply by mail for a vote-by-mail ballot was 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, visit the Essex County Clerk website.

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