At the state level the New Jersey legislature passed, signed into law by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a bill to allow 17 year olds to vote in primary elections if they will become 18 by the general election in November. With this new law and other laws passed during the Murphy Administration with support from Democrats and opposed by Republicans, New Jersey leads the nation with a longstanding commitment to expanding democracy, building on previous voting rights expansion measures including automatic voter registration, in-person early voting, online voter registration, and the restoration of voting rights for individuals on probation or parole, among other reforms.

Leading the movement in New Jersey to lower the voting age to 16 is the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, a group of professional academics and activists committed to social, economic and political empowerment of low-income individuals, disadvantaged groups and communities, especially racial minorities that have suffered greatly from past discrimination and alienation. The NJISJ is committed to achieving equality of opportunity and the right to fully participate in the political process, especially minority youth from disadvantaged families who are affected by political outcomes but unable to gain self-determination in deciding their future outcomes.