Last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy took a significant step towards expanding youth participation in elections. He signed the New Voter Empowerment Act, a legislative measure that grants voting rights in primary elections to a younger demographic: 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the time of the upcoming general election.
Citizen 17-year-olds who reside in their voting districts and will turn 18 before the next general election now have the right to participate in primary elections, thanks to this new law. However, it is important to note that the law will only take effect from January 2026, and hence, 17-year-olds in New Jersey will not have a say in the 2024 primaries.
Murphy expressed his support for the new legislation, emphasising its potential to strengthen democracy through active participation from all eligible voters and to engage a new generation in the political discourse. His comment further underscores the intent of this act: to foster an empowered generation of voters who are invested in the decisions that will shape their future.
It is not just New Jersey that has enacted such a law. In fact, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 19 other states have similar laws that permit 17-year-olds to vote if they will be 18 by the next general election.
Amidst a climate of heightened attention to voting rules, with cases pertaining to voting rights and district maps being fiercely litigated across numerous states, this move by New Jersey’s governor signals a turning tide. Last month, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin had ruled that Wisconsin’s assembly district maps were unconstitutional, ordering new maps for the 2024 elections. Simultaneously, lawsuits were filed by voting rights advocacy groups in North Carolina, challenging the state’s redistricting plans.
As the narrative around voting rights continues to evolve, the decision by Governor Murphy to lower the primary voting age in New Jersey contributes to an ongoing conversation on the democratic process, adding another layer to our understanding of how these processes may change in the future.