Westfield Councilman, Students Launch Effort To Lower Voting Age To 16

WESTFIELD, NJ — In New Jersey and across the country, 16 and 17-year-olds can legally drive, work, pay taxes and even have sex — as the age of consent is 16 in N.J. At age 17 they can register to vote, but they cannot actually cast their ballots until they turn 18.

Westfield Councilman David Contract and many local students believe this logic does not make sense.

This is why Contract and several high school students have banded together to launch Vote16NJ — a grassroots movement to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections.

Contract said the genesis for the movement came out of his re-election campaign for town council last year.

"I was talking to my son who was 17 at the time, about getting him excited about my campaign," Contract said. "And he was like, 'Dad, I'm interested, but at the end of the day, I can't vote for you. So why would I be that excited about it when I can't even act on that?"

Contract argues that allowing 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote would give them a say in what's happening in their towns, as well as expand the electorate. It would also allow them to vote in local races, such as the Board of Education, which have a direct impact on their lives.

At the same time he was forming these ideas, Contract said a Westfield High School sophomore, Yenjay Hu, had reached out to Mayor Shelley Brindle feeling the same way. The two decided to team up and eventually launch Vote 16NJ.

"[We recognize] this is a big uphill climb, because the New Jersey Constitution mandates [that] you have to be 18 to vote legally, in all elections that occur in the state of New Jersey, but we're not deterred," Contract said. "So we established Vote16NJ to change the laws."

In order to actually change this law, Contract said it will require a constitutional amendment and a ballot measure. Both houses of the legislature would need to pass legislation supporting the amendment, and then it would appear on the ballot and local voters can decide.

As of now, Contract said about 10 high school students are actively involved in the group from different municipalities, including Westfield, Somerville, Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston and more.

The campaign is starting out by focusing on local elections where high school students "have more skin in the game," Contract said.

"When you're a 16 and 17-year-old in high school, what the school board decides has a meaningful impact on your educational experience in high school," Contract said. "We've seen this across the state where there have been battles over curriculum and books ..."

While there are a number of states that are passing new laws that are trying restrict voting rights, such as in Florida and Georgia, Contract said he believes New Jersey should be on the forefront of the polar opposite.

"We are a representative government that is predicated on the right to vote," Contract said. "Let's actually legitimately and logically expand the right to vote where it makes sense."

In Maryland, Contract said there are currently five municipalities that have approved the right for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote locally.

Across the globe, there are also several countries that allow voting at 16, including Argentina, Brazil, Scotland, Wales, Austria, Norway, Ecuador, Cuba, Malta and Nicaragua. Some states in Germany allow voting at 16, and they are debating expanding this nationally, as is Canada.

According to the Vote16NJ website, voting in one election makes an individual 25 percent more likely to vote in the next election. In addition, it says 16-year-olds tend to score higher in civic knowledge compared to adults over the age of 18.

Contract said there are several organizations that have shown "tremendous interest" in Vote16NJ's mission, such as the Good Government Coalition of New Jersey, the Worker's Party and the High School Democrats of New Jersey.

The group also met with NJ Senate President Nicholas Scutari's staff in March, and Contract said Scutari was interested in the mission but wants the group to expand its coalition across the state to garner more awareness and attention. Contract said the goal is to have high school students at the forefront of driving this initiative.

Co-founder Hu explained why he decided to campaign for lowering the voting age in N.J.

“I started working with Vote16NJ because I believe that allowing 16 year olds to vote could be vital in achieving a more civically engaged public, which is essential for the future of the nation," Hu said. "Also, I believe that 16 year olds should have a say in the decisions that directly affect them, exemplified by recent school board decisions that have greatly impacted the lives of students.”

Anjali Krishnamurti, a high school student from Somerville, said she has been working to lower the voting age in the state for a few years, taking initiatives such as reaching out to officials, forming bonds with organizations and making connections with other politically engaged young people throughout the state.

"If the political system forces the youth to experience controversial issues, we deserve a vote to do something about them,” Krishnamurti said.

To get involved, Contract encourages people to sign Vote16NJ's change.org petition. You can learn more about the movement at www.vote16nj.org.

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