It’s Time to Lower the Voting Age to 16
Authors: Jean Calva, Jacky Torres, Lizbeth Hernandez and Lorena Rojas, students from Union County and youth leaders from Make the Road NJ’s Youth Power Project
Every election, tens of thousands of people across New Jersey don’t have the right to participate freely in our democracy by voting: high school students.
As students from Elizabeth and Linden, we face numerous challenges that affect us directly, from navigating strict dress codes to limited school resources including FAFSA preparation and college readiness programs. Despite being directly affected by these issues, we do not have a voice in the School Board decisions that shape our future. It’s time for a change, and municipalities across New Jersey need to step up and follow Newark’s lead – and let us vote in School Board elections.
Having student voices included in the decision-making process of School Boards is crucial in order to uplift students, especially BIPOC students.
Jean Calva, an author of this piece and a rising senior at the Frank J. Cicarell Academy in Elizabeth, points out that while teachers sometimes step in to support students with their goals, they are often playing this role due to a lack of guidance counselors at our schools..”Having more counselors is needed to provide proper support for BIPOC and first generation students that are still learning about the college application,” said Calva. And with the new requirement for students to complete their FAFSA applications in order to graduate, many students will be left behind without proper guidance. That is just one issue we would emphasize for School Board membership, if we had a say.
Luckily, students are empowering themselves, uplifting each other through peer to peer services. If students can organize themselves to change our community, imagine the possibilities when we have the power to vote for our School Boards. Representation matters.
This summer, we took to the streets and spoke with hundreds of students and community members about the importance of lowering the voting age for School Board elections. This will not only serve as a platform for many of us but also strengthen our democracy by allowing us students to become an essential part of the democratic system. As Jacky Torres, a rising senior from Linden High School simply puts it, “The privilege of voting means to be able to have a say and carry responsibility on choosing what we think is best for our futures. We can be included in shaping our society.”
Lowering the voting age is not a new idea. Several countries have done it and five U.S. cities allow 16 and 17 years old to vote in local and school board elections. Take a look at Newark, NJ and how they have taken the lead in lowering the voting age to 16 year olds for School Boards.
Lowering the voting age will set a precedent for not only students but also for our communities. Many of us are first generation students, and for many of us our parents don’t have the privilege of voting. It’s important for young people to stay up to date and to be aware of the issues that politicians have to tackle that will affect our day-to-day lives. Voting in School Board elections will form good habits for young people to keep voting and we will continue to embrace our new voting power. Right now our voices matter more than ever.
“We will play an important role in how the school district is run,” weighs in Lizbeth. “For some students, it can be the start of their political journey. It will build the next leaders of New Jersey. It will also inspire other students across the country to be more involved in their schools and communities. It will encourage every young person to stand up for what we believe in.”
It is time for students to vote in our School Board elections and communities. It is time for the school board of education to work collectively and closely with us students. We are the ones who are being affected by the policies the board implements. It is only fair for our voices to be counted.
As a rising senior at Elizabeth High School Lorena Rojas put it, “We are the ones enduring these policies put in place by board members that have not been in school in years. We should have a voice as we personally know the issues that could or are occurring in school.”
We want better schools that help us thrive. We want a better future for our generation and generations to come. And we can only achieve this by allowing students to take an active role in School Board of Education elections. It’s time to give us a voice and show that our perspectives are both valuable and essential.
It is time for New Jersey to step up and become the first state to pass S3240/A4369 allowing 16 year olds to vote for Board of Education elections.
Let’s agree to disagree on this one. Midterm and general elections are simply not high school student body elections.
Stewart, that’s about the response I’d expect from you 16 and 17 year olds are responsible enough to participate in the voting process. Maybe tie voting eligibility for teens to grade achievements, say, B+ or better. They may surprise you.
With Respect, 16 and 17 year old persons should not be granted the right to vote. People of this age group are by and large, still living at home with their family and not living independently. Their minds and rational thought process are still growing. Parents should bring their children to local governing board and school board meetings. Schools should reintroduce courses in Civics, so when these children turn 18, they are indeed ready to be an adult, and ready to vote. A Freshman doesn’t know, and knows he doesn’t know. A
Sophomore doesn’t know, but thinks she knows. A Junior knows, but doesn’t know that he knows. A Senior knows, and knows that she knows.