Young People Will Attend Summit to Lower Voting Age

Gov. Murphy, Mayor Baraka to Speak to Young People at Event

NEWARK – Tomorrow, Oct. 5, from 8: 30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Rutgers University in Newark, young people from across the state will come together for a full-day training on how to advocate for lowering the voting age to 16 in New Jersey school board elections.

The Vote 16 Youth Summit will feature panel discussions on the current state of youth voting rights in the U.S. as well as workshops aimed at exploring the legislative process, campaign strategy and coalition building.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will present special remarks to participants.

Note: Press must RSVP in advance to the contact above, and identify themselves at check-in to be connected with Institute staff.

In January, Newark became the first municipality in New Jersey and the second largest city in the country to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections following a vote by the Newark City Council. Voter registration for young people will begin on Feb. 1, 2025 for Newark’s April School Board election.

The vote came after testimony from young people and one day after Gov. Phil Murphy announced his support for lowering the voting age to 16 for school board elections during his State of the State address.

Statewide legislation to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections was introduced in May.

WHAT: Vote16 Youth Summit

WHERE: Rutgers University – Newark, Paul Robeson Campus Center, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd., Newark 07102

WHEN: Tomorrow, Oct. 5 from 8:30 a.m. –  6:30 p.m.

A detailed schedule of the Youth Summit can be found here.