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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ATLATNIC CITY — City Council postponed a public hearing on an ordinance to lower the voting age for school board elections in the city to 16 from 18 at its meeting Wednesday night. Sponsor and Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz said there were still some details to be worked out before it comes up for consideration again. He declined to be more specific.
“It is our duty to make sure we do everything to incentivize young people voting, especially on school boards, and it’s only on the school board elections, because it directly impacts them,” Shabazz has said about his reasons for sponsoring the ordinance. The ordinance was "adjourned indefinitely," officials said. Before the announcement, Dominelle "KioKo" Emanuel, of Atlantic City, spoke out against the idea.
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. I'm asking council to think about this," Emanuel said. "I'm against lowering the age.
At 16, most are more concerned about social media than what is going on at school. They are not at board of education meetings." Emanuel said adults need to be more responsible about educating younger teens before considering letting 16-year-olds vote.
The new minimum age to vote in school board elections would be 16, rather than the current 18, if Atlantic City Council passes an ordinance Wednesday night after a public hearing. A planned news conference in support of the change with Shabazz, the New Jersey NAACP and the N.J.
Institute for Social Justice was also postponed. It had originally been set for 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday in Council Chambers, prior to the 5 p.m. meeting.
If passed, the city would become the second in the state to lower the voting age for school board elections. Newark was the first, passing its ordinance in January. The April 2025 school board election will be the first time younger teens can vote in Newark, according to NJ Spotlight News.
Atlantic City Council introduced the ordinance at its October meeting. If passed, 16- and 17-year-olds would be able to vote for school board candidates in 2025. In January, NAACP youth leaders asked council to lower the age for voting in local school board elections to 16, and Shabazz promised to introduce such an ordinance.
“(The change) would allow for and result in inclusive and unbiased policies,” said Destiny Austin, president of the NAACP Atlantic City Branch Youth Council. “Studies have shown that young citizens and marginalized youth are disproportionately affected by decisions made by older generations. .
.. We should be given a say in policies that directly affect us.
” Gov. Phil Murphy supports bills (S3240/A4369) to make 16- and 17-year-olds eligible to vote in school board elections. They were introduced in May and referred to committees in the Assembly and state Senate.
Atlantic City Council introduced a new ordinance Wednesday night to allow 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections, down from the current age of 18. In January, Murphy signed legislation that would allow 17-year-olds in New Jersey to vote in primaries starting in 2026 if they’ll be 18 by the next general election. New Jersey joins 19 other states and the District of Columbia with similar laws on the books, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Under current New Jersey law, 17-year-olds can register to vote but cannot actually vote until they turn 18. There are bills pending (A1176/S321) in the state Legislature to allow 16-year-olds to register to vote, but they still would be unable to actually vote until they turn 18. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.
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