Despite the low turnout, Assatta Mann, senior community organizer for the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, said this year’s election laid the foundation for future 16- and 17-year-old voters. The learning curve for youth and the short time frame to register teens, coupled with existing voter challenges, impacted the teen vote this year, Mann said.
“I do think that going forward in future elections we will see the turnout rise, and hopefully, in part because some changes will be made to make voting easier and accessible, especially for this group of voters,” Mann added.