New Jersey City Allows 16 and 17-Year-Olds to Vote in School Board Elections

The Newark City Council in New Jersey has unanimously approved an ordinance that allows 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in upcoming school board elections. This decision comes after only 3% of eligible participants turned out to vote in the last school board election. Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka supported the ordinance, stating that “democracy is stronger when more people participate.” The expansion in voting rights will impact over 7,000 16 and 17-year-old teens in the state’s largest city. The move to allow the teens to vote in school board elections follows a trend of Democrats pushing to lower the voting age to 16. The ordinance is expected to empower young people and give them a voice in matters that directly affect them. However, some critics argue that these young people are not mature enough to make informed decisions and that the move is illegal as it goes against the national and state constitutions. Despite these concerns, the Newark City Council remains committed to the ordinance and looks forward to its passage.