Governor Murphy Discusses Lowering the Voting Age with Students
HOBOKEN – Momentum is building in some quarters to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board and other local elections.
A national group – Vote16USA – has been advocating for the change across the country. Just for the record, the voting age traditionally was 21 in the United States until it was lowered to 18 in 1971.
The 18-year-old requirement for voting will remain on the federal level in the absence of a constitutional amendment. The push now is to allow younger teens to vote only in local elections.
Earlier this year, the Newark City Council approved allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school elections.
Phil Murphy is a big proponent of the idea.
Here is what he said earlier this year:
“I know to some, this proposal may sound unconventional. But voting is a lifelong habit. And studies show that, if a person votes in one election – they are more likely to turn out in the next election. So, encouraging our young neighbors to engage with democracy, is really about encouraging them to become lifelong voters.”
The governor followed up Tuesday afternoon, visiting Hoboken High School to discuss the idea with students in an Advanced Placement class on government and politics.
Another supporter is state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack.
Like all innovations, not everyone is on board with the idea.
At the public hearing in Newark a few months ago, one critic expressed fear that 16 and 17-year-olds would be influenced by their parents, or perhaps their teachers.
In an environment with machine politics – like Newark, and for that matter, Hoboken – that’s a legitimate concern.
Another observation is, just how many young people would take advantage of voting, say, for school board members?
The argument is that those who actually go to school would have a very direct reason to vote in school elections.
Maybe.
Broadly speaking, the data accumulated over the last few decades shows that 18 to 24-year-olds have the lowest voter participation of any cohort. And that includes elections far above the local level – like president.
Speaking of voting and school boards, here is some food for thought.
The school election once stood alone – taking place in mid-April. Voters voted for board members, but also “yes” or “no” on the next school year’s budget.
That changed during the Christie years. The argument was that moving the school election to November, which is now the case in most districts, would save money.
Of course, the real reason was that local officials no longer wanted to deal with a voter-rejected school budget. The pattern was for the town governing body to recommend a dollar figure to be cut. That was always controversial and moving the election to November eliminated a public vote on the budget. That’s because it was impractical to vote on a budget in November when the school year had already begun.
So here’s an idea.
If 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote, move all school elections back to April and let them vote on the budget.
As the governor said in Hoboken, “Local school board elections directly impact the day-to-day lives of 16 and 17-year-old students, and we have the opportunity to instill in them the lifelong value of voting. Casting your ballot is a simple and effective way to help shape the future. I look forward to the day this bill lands on my desk.”
A valid point.
So let them – and everyone else – vote on the school budget.
Why don’t Democrats lower the voting age to 5 years old??? That’s about the mentality of most Democrats. Having children vote, who don’t have the right to contract, drive a car, go to war, drink, get a real job, etc. , is about on the mentality level of most Democrats. This is just another excuse to get as many votes as possible, because Democrat voters (those that are reasonable and former JFK voters) see the writing on the wall, and are pulling away from the Democrat (nee Communist) Party in NJ and the United States. Democrats are panicking that they’re losing their entire base including but not limited to the black community, the Hispanic community, the Jewish community, and the union workers (not their leaders). This is because the Democrat-Communist Party has exposed themselves as fakes, phonies, and frauds, hell-bent on self-aggrandizement, and not being interested in the welfare of We the People.
Stupidity of the highest order, allowing 16 and 17 year olds, who have virtually no fiscal responsibility and little knowledge of how government works – to cast crucial votes in local elections. We know this is a ploy by the NJEA to allow brainwashed kids to vote the way their teacher tell them too.. I love the suggestion, to bring the school board elections back to April and let everyone vote on them. Moving school elections to November was another NJEA ploy to avoid voter wrath over wasteful school spending. The move to November has not saved money, and has buried school election issue. Move the elections to April.
High level security experts are saying America has already fallen in a coup d’etat.
These people have all held TS/SCI clearances, and have worked out of Secure Compartmentalized Information Facilities (SCIFs) for a living. Some of them have led Tier 1 Special Forces. Some are them have led CIA Paramilitary operations. Some of them have led Clandestine Services operations. We’re talking about CIA. DIA. Green Berets & SEALs. Delta Force. SEAL Team 6/DEVGRU.
This is a very elite group of subject matter experts. Some of them are constitutional lawyers who understand the political philosophy of the American Founders. Some of them are analysts who specialize in the doctrines, tactics, and objectives of America’s enemies — foreign and domestic.
We’re not living in a failed state. It’s much worse. We’re living in a Marxist counter-state. What does that mean? It means: the federal government is functioning as a domestic enemy of the American people, operate under the color of law.
In other words, the communists inside the government are using the law, and the courts, and the power of the American government to subvert and undermine the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Can my dog and cat get a vote while we’re at it? This is your legislative priority, Mr. Murphy? Can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
At some point we lose all common sense. The silent majority spends its time fighting priorities which benefits no one. There is no accountability in government for the failed policies and programs of the majority. Those in power feed on the apathy of the public. It’s all money driven, and the corruption has no consequences. Do you wonder why the radical right gets its energy?