Bill

Bill > S4173


NJ S4173

NJ S4173
Permits 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections for local school board.


summary

Introduced
11/30/2023
In Committee
11/30/2023
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2024

Introduced Session

2022-2023 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, any person who is at least 18 years of age, who is a citizen of the United States, and who is a resident of the district in which they wish to vote, is entitled to register and vote in elections in this State. This bill permits 16 and 17-year-olds, who are U.S. citizens and residents of New Jersey, to vote only in their local school elections for school board members, if they reside in a school district that has adopted the provisions of this bill. The bill does not allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in any other election. This bill allows for voters in a school district to put the question of whether to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections on the next general election ballot as a public question, if they can collect supporting signatures of 15% of the voters who voted in the district at the preceding presidential election. The bill also will allow for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections upon the adoption of a resolution by the board of education of the school district, or the governing body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities constituting the district. The bill directs the Division of Elections in the Department of State to establish rules that: (1) create a process to register 16 and 17-year-olds to vote; (2) establish a list of acceptable forms of identification for 16 and 17-year-olds, including their State ID, learner's permit, work permit, and school transcript; and (3) provide guidelines for a form of paper ballot for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote on.

AI Summary

This bill permits 16 and 17-year-old U.S. citizen residents of New Jersey to vote only in their local school board elections, if their school district has adopted the provisions of this bill. The bill allows for voters in a school district to put the question of allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections on the next general election ballot, if they can collect supporting signatures of 15% of the voters who voted in the district at the preceding presidential election. The bill also allows for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections upon the adoption of a resolution by the school district's board of education or governing body. The Division of Elections is directed to establish rules for registering 16 and 17-year-olds, acceptable forms of identification, and the design of paper ballots for these voters. The bill does not allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in any other election.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 11/30/2023)

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