Star-Ledger/NY.Com (Op-Ed): It’s time for Newark to include young people in school board elections

In 2023, roughly 96% of eligible voters did not participate in the Newark school board elections. The Newark public school system governs 65 schools and over 40,000 students. Over 90% of those students are Black or Hispanic, and 56.5% of students are considered economically disadvantaged.

Read those numbers over again. Consider how few people participated in choosing the leaders that shape the future of their schools and community. Think about the enormous impact that the Newark public school system has on the next generation of New Jersey citizens.

The benefits of passing this ordinance are plenty. These young people are affected every day by the school board’s decisions, so giving them a voice in the election of these board members would allow them to provide critical input. As Larry Hamm of the People’s Organization for Progress said to WGBO, “I think it will bring us closer to the youngest segment of our population and make our political system more sensitive to their needs.”

Beyond the schools, though, this ordinance could help to instill the value of civic participation in a new generation of voters. Studies have shown that voting is a habit that is best established early; the younger a person is allowed to vote, the more likely they are to sustain that habit throughout their life.

At 16, students would have more robust and structured guidance to pursue a future of habitual voting supported by parents, mentors and teachers. With voting in school board elections acting as a stepping stone, Newark youth will become more educated, informed, and effective voters once they receive full enfranchisement at 18.

The impact of youth engagement extends beyond just youth — when students vote, they often influence others to participate, too. A study cited by the National Youth Rights Association showed that parents who had children participating in elections (though these were mock elections) were more likely to participate themselves. Newark may be able to boost participation across the electorate in its future local elections by allowing students to vote now in school board elections.

Newark is not alone in considering this new approach. Many jurisdictions in the United States have already lowered the voting age to 16 for some or all elections — yielding increases in voter turnout with no discernable drawbacks. Berkeley and Oakland, California have both lowered the voting age for their school board elections. Several towns in Maryland, like Hyattsville and Takoma Park, have lowered the voting age for all local elections, and young folks have eagerly cast their votes at rates higher than any other age group.

Opponents of lowering the voting age often draw from a wide range of concerns. Many are worried that youth will only follow their parents’ beliefs. But lowered voting age would not make a difference in this regard, with a 2022 study finding that an 18-year-old is no less likely to be influenced politically by their parents than a 16-year-old.

Furthermore, fears of young voters making irresponsible decisions at the polls due to impulsivity are overblown. Cold Cognition — the brain’s slow, methodical critical thinking process – is just as developed in 16-year-olds as in adults, making them no poorer at picking the best candidate while voting. Finally, it is important to recognize that a rogue candidate that panders to the youth vote would surely fail, given that the adult vote may largely offset the influence of the 16 to 18 demographic.

With that said: why not? With just over 3% participation, Newark’s school board elections could use an infusion of fresh, young energy. Give these students the chance to be heard, and you might be surprised by how much they can do.

Alyssa Canty is the director of youth programs at Common Cause. Yenjay Hu is the co-executive director of Vote16 New Jersey.

To read the full op-ed online, click here.