December 21, 2023

 

NEWARK –The New Jersey Legislature today passed A3690/S1888, which will allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 years old before the next general election.

“Our democracy is stronger when more people, especially young people, participate,” said Micauri Vargas, Associate Counsel of the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “Allowing 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the next general election to participate in the primaries is a common-sense way to expand our democracy and create more lifelong voters in New Jersey. We urge Gov. Murphy to sign this bill into law as soon as possible.”

New Jersey is the 20th state to pass a law allowing 17-year-olds to cast a ballot in the primary if they will be 18 by the general election.

The bill, now reconciled with the Senate version, will go to Gov. Murphy for signature.

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