Teens push for the right to vote, but civic education remains ambiguous

Six New Jersey high school students, Siddhartha Sampathkumar, Natalia Torres, Devon Sanchez, Ahmed Omer, Ananya Bhatla and Prabhjit Singh, share their thoughts on lowering the voting age and the need for civic education. (Photos Courtesy of Sampathkumar, Torres, Sanchez, Omer, Bhatla and Singh, respectively)

Sixteen-year-olds can drive cars. They can make confidential medical decisions. They can change their names or emancipate themselves. They can sign off on blood and even organ donation. In many states and municipalities, they’re tried as adults for crimes. They can get jobs, and must pay income taxes if they do work. 

However, they cannot vote for school board members who have a direct impact on their experience in the public school system. Student advocates in New Jersey are trying to change that.

“Sixteen is the perfect age to catalyze a lifelong passion for the political process,” said Anjali Krishnamurti and Yenjay Hu, co-founders of the Vote16NJ initiative.

The initiative achieved a significant victory on Jan. 10 when Newark became the first city in New Jersey to enfranchise 16- and 17-year-old voters in local school board elections. This decision, spurred by a wave of movements advocating for the enfranchisement of 16- and 17-year-olds, marks a victory for the initiative — and increases the city’s voter base by over 7,000 people.

Many students are happy about the advancement, yet they wish it would have come sooner. “I definitely would have been more prepared to vote in this year’s election if I had started at 16,” said Ahmed Omer, an 18-year-old from Jersey City. “I’d be more comfortable knowing how to research candidates and be confident in my decisions.”

Others are excited to take advantage of it and are hopeful they can vote before turning 18.

“Knowing I will be eligible to vote has pushed me to be more informed about politics in order to make informed decisions,” said Prabjhit Singh, a 17-year-old, also from Jersey City. “If I had had this right at 16 and not 18, I would definitely have been doing the same at that age to get more involved in my community that way.”

But for those who don’t know where to start — how to research candidates, register to vote or  navigate other voting logistics — the effort to lower the voting age can ring hollow because it does not include expanding civic education.

Hu and Krishnamurti are working with their own legal team to rework and rewrite the NJ S4173 Bill, sponsored by Senator Brain P. Stack, which would have allowed local municipalities to adopt resolutions giving 16- and 17-year-olds the ability to vote in school district elections. In December, NJS4173 died in committee.

After a second attempt, through NJ S2789 Bill, the bill made it further along, but was eventually withdrawn from consideration in February; Stack’s office said they withdrew it because lowering the voting age was possible through ordinance at the municipal level. Stack is currently working with Senator Raj Mukherji to bring the change statewide, but no status updates were available from his office.

In the meantime, the ambiguity of civic education remains with individual school boards in New Jersey. 

“As you know, each school board passes their own changes in curriculum,” Hu said. “And so we definitely support increasing civic education. But at this time, there is no language support around that in the bill.”

Regardless of the lack of emphasis on civics education, Hu and proponents of Vote16 emphasized that lowering the voting age to 16 itself would increase civic engagement.

The case for lowering the voting age to 16

The effort to lower the voting age is a longstanding one, with several New Jersey organizations calling for change — such as the Jersey City Vote@16 movement and New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

The 2022 school board elections generated approximately 11,230 votes among the various candidates, and estimates indicate the new move by the City of Newark to lower the voting age could enfranchise 7,300 new possible voters — what would be a strong force in any election for school board representatives.

Further, the lower turnouts among local elections mean that individual votes make much more of a difference. This is critical, most proponents of the lower voting age say, to reducing voter apathy among the upcoming generations of voters. But more directly, proponents argue, it matters who sits on school boards. 

School board members decide on curriculum and the starting and ending dates of the school year; they also  oversee the management of the district, adopt textbooks, raise or lower local taxes, and ensure accommodations for the education of students with mental or physical handicaps. It’s important for students to be able to decide who it is that decides these things, Hu said. 

Hu argues that 18 is an inconvenient age to start voting. It is a year chalk-full of major life changes such as adulthood, college and careers. He added that the various levels of government and elections can easily add to a new voter’s confusion. 

Without any commitment to civic education, this is even truer.

Vote16NJ is at the forefront of advocacy for lowering the voting age. Initially, they had been told by legal experts that lowering the voting age to 16 would require a state constitutional amendment. However, after working further with the Institute of Social Justice, they realized that local municipalities could lower the voting age without going through the state legislature.

The 26th Amendment mandates that, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” 

What the 26th Amendment prohibits is raising the voting age to prevent anyone aged 18 or over from voting; what it does not prohibit is states and municipalities from lowering the age. It is this sort of loophole that has enabled many municipalities in the U.S., including Newark, to lower the voting age below 18.   

Still, the question remains: Even if Newark can enfranchise 7,300 more people, how many of them will be equipped with the tools needed to get involved in their local elections? 

Civic education is around, but who’s getting it? 

The current state of civics education. Source: The Center for American Progress.

“We hope that by giving students a tangible way to practice, like what they see in the classroom, students will be more interested in politics and willing to get involved and educated,” said Hu. “Right now, students are discouraged from thinking about politics or voting because hey, you can’t do it until you’re 18 or have basically graduated. So why think about it, or why get educated on it?”

“Giving youth a voice, I hope, will lead to an increase in civic engagement and actually incentivize far greater civic participation,” he continued.

But what happens when students aren’t given exposure to voting practice in the classroom? And what happens when some students are at a statistical disadvantage when it comes to getting that exposure from teachers? 

According to a 2020 Tufts study, nearly one-third of all 2,232 respondents between 18 and 29 had reported never being encouraged to vote in school. These same respondents were also reported to be almost twice as likely to consider voting a “waste of time.” 

The study also found that two out of every three White respondents remembered being encouraged to vote as a student, as opposed to only one in every two Black respondents. With the correlation between a lack of encouragement and voter apathy, the inequalities in civic education inevitably trickle down to the ballot.

Black youth cited racism as the top issue facing the country at about the same rate as the pandemic (34% pandemic, 35% racism). On the other hand, White youth were more likely to cite the economy and jobs as the most important issue facing the country (24%).  Ultimately, this can mean — because they are not encouraged to vote — the issues Black students care about do not get as much attention as they otherwise could.

Black youth cited racism as the top issue facing the country at about the same rate as the pandemic (34% pandemic, 35% racism); on the other hand, White youth were more likely to cite the economy and jobs as the most important issue facing the country (24%). Ultimately, this can mean — with fewer Black youth encouraged to vote and at the polls — the issues Black students care about do not get as much attention as they otherwise could.

The fight to lower the voting age expands

The hopes to lower Newark’s voting age came to fruition, and now, Vote16NJ is working on bringing such change to other municipalities. Hu cited an expanding effort in Montclair to increase young voter participation by lowering the voting age.

At the state level, there has been less success, leading advocates to focus their efforts at the municipal level.

Still, students outside Newark remain positive about reducing the voting age, even if the tools enabling them to do so remain uncertain. That said, without civic education being a tenet of the legislation, lowering the voting age may not achieve all it aims to. 

“Students already interested in civic issues — the ones I work with in HSDA, or just students like yourself [referring to the reporters] — would be mainly the ones to participate in the local board of education elections, while students who don’t have interest, wouldn’t,” said Ananya Bhatla, a 15-year old active in the High School Democrats of America. “So basically, it wouldn’t attract new students, just give interested ones a platform.”

Devon Sanchez, a senior at William L. Dickinson High School said that although 16-year olds are smart, and “ready to take things seriously,” it’s not clear they will.

“I think there’s plenty of kids who would treat it as a joke, or simply not know how to vote because they have no opinion on the platforms people are running with,” he said. “I think before we can consider lowering the age, we need to have a talk about bettering our education.”

Youths sound off on the effort to reduce the voting age

Six students, including those interviewed in this article, and attending school around North Jersey were interviewed about their thoughts on lowering the voting age, and what it means in the absence of added civic education. Their ideas, thoughts and commentary follow this article. 

Ananya Bhatla, 15 (at the time of this interview), is Indian, and has lived in Edison, N.J., for most of her educational life.

Q: How do you feel about the passing of legislation to expand the ability to vote for younger people?

A: I think it is a good step forward. It is definitely important for younger citizens to be involved in voter rights and understand policy making. And, while I don’t know how soon we will feel the effects of the bill in our localities, it seems promising. 

Q: Are you looking forward to possibly partaking in local elections starting next year? Is it something you are genuinely interested in?

A: I mean, if actually given the opportunity — of course, I would be glad. Already, as someone civically involved in the High School Democrats of America, I am focused on bringing together representatives on a local level, and promoting candidates. Both as part of the organization and in general, I think it is really important to highlight local voices, as part of greater national change. 

Q: Do you think the possibility of voting in local or Board of Education (BOE) elections would attract more attention to civic issues?

A: Well, I think the students already interested in civic issues – the ones I work with in HSDA, or just students like yourself [referring to the PSA reporters] — would be mainly the ones to participate in the local/BOE elections, while students who don’t have interest, wouldn’t. So basically, it wouldn’t attract new students, just give interested ones a platform. 

Q: How expansive would you say your civic education has been? Where have you learned about civics from, if at all?

A: I guess, I have a lot of historical civic education from AP US History (and other classes), but not much about the actual government. Mostly just about historical figures, values, etc. 

Q: Do you think lowering the voting age is enough incentive to get people to vote? If not, what do you recommend? 

A: No, I don't think so. Most high-schoolers are just concerned about their day-to-day challenges instead of policy issues, and are already busy with their coursework. Just voting itself probably isn't that interesting. Maybe some sort of academic incentive or challenge would make it more fun.

Q: If the voting age were lowered for you right now, would you feel prepared to make a decision? 

A: Probably not. I don't know much about local elections or the candidates running. I would need to do more research. 

Natalia Torres, 16, is Ecuadorian and has lived in the U.S. all of her life. She attends school in West Caldwell, N.J.

Q: How do you feel about the passing of legislation to expand the ability to vote for younger people?

A: I feel optimistic about the passing of legislation to expand the ability to vote for young people. Having had conversations about the possibility before, I discussed how I think that the participation of young people in elections will benefit the government. It is important to show the younger generation that their voice is important. By letting them have a say in local elections, this bill stands as a bridge between conventional beliefs and newer ones. As younger people tend to have different opinions, their partaking in elections could help better represent the public view.

Q: Are you looking forward to possibly partaking in local elections? Is it something you are genuinely interested in?

A: I am definitely looking forward to possibly partaking in local elections as voting and playing my part in democracy has always been something that interested me. I remember I used to count the years until I could vote in the presidential election, and felt genuinely sad that I would miss being able to vote for the 2024 one by a few months. As a woman and a minority, I understand the importance that even one vote could play in impacting the way our government is ruled. It is for that reason that I feel positive about the possibility of voting at a younger age.

Q: Do you think the possibility of voting in local or BOE elections would attract more attention to civic issues?

A: The possibility of voting in local or BOE elections would certainly attract more attention to civic issues. A lot of teenagers are not (motivated) to truly care about issues in their communities and country until they become 18 because that is when they are an “adult” and can contribute to society. I think that this belief is what causes the lack of attention to civic issues. With the possibility of voting, more attention would be paid to these problems and solutions would be brainstormed.

Siddhartha Sampathkumar, 17, is from India, and has lived in Jersey City, N.J. his entire life.

Q: If you had been able to vote at 16 would you have taken the opportunity? Would you see yourself as being more involved in the civic process now?

A: Absolutely. Voting is touted as one of the biggest responsibilities of a citizen (especially in America), and I think that it couples with the idea of self-determination our country was founded on. The idea that I can affect my government’s path resonates with me, so I definitely would have taken the opportunity to vote at 16. I would surely see myself as more involved in the civic process too, because, while I’m already decently informed about politics and read about it a lot, actually taking action by voting is an initiation into civics. I would feel much more determined to be involved if I could have voted at a younger age, for sure. 

Q: How connected do you feel to your local politics? Would the ability to vote change that? 

A: I feel moderately connected to local politics; I generally keep up with the things happening in the city, so I feel fairly knowledgeable about what is going on. Gaining the ability to vote would make me much more conscious of our local politics though, because then I could actually change what is going on in that sphere if I don’t agree with it. Voting is the most direct action in politics, and that’s where my opinion could actually shine. 

Q: Do you think local politicians would feel more drive to appeal to your needs as a young voter?

A: I think there’s been a kind of shift to appeal to younger voters already in America, because young people have come out in bigger droves in the past two elections to change the government for their own interests. I’m sure that this shift will trickle down to local politics by itself, but making the ability to vote have a lower barrier would definitely make the shift in focus more dramatic. 

Q: How expansive would you say your civic education has been? Where have you learned about civics from, if at all?

A: I’m lucky enough to have a pretty good civics background, from social science teachers ever since the 8th grade. I won't pretend like I know everything, but I believe I know enough to make informed decisions and form informed opinions on the topic, which is all anyone can really hope for.

Q: Do you think lowering the voting age is enough incentive to get people to vote? If not, what do you recommend?

A: Yes. It may sound optimistic, but the students within Jersey City are eager for their voice to be heard, in my experience.

Q: If the voting age were lowered for you right now, would you feel prepared to make a decision? 

A: No. I would definitely need to do more research on all of the candidates, but having said that, I know I would be much more driven to do so because of my ability to vote.

Prabhjit Singh, 17, was born in India and has lived in Jersey City, N.J., since the age of two. He now attends school in the city.

Q: If you had been able to vote at 16 would you have taken the opportunity? Would you see yourself as being more involved in the civic process now?

A: If given the opportunity, I’d see myself being more involved in the civic process. I am 17 right now, and I will turn 18 before the upcoming presidential elections. Knowing I will be eligible to vote has pushed me to be more informed about politics in order to make informed decisions. If I had had this right at 16 and not 18, I would definitely have been doing the same at that age to get more involved in my community that way. Nobody has pushed me to become more aware, but I’ve made the choice to do so after learning that it is one of my responsibilities as a future voter. Being involved in the civic process is something that helps myself and my generation uphold the responsibility of a democracy. You can see how enthusiastically people are advocating for the voting age to be lowered with Vote@16, a campaign I support. Young people are advocating for the right to vote and, from what I’ve seen, my generation and peers are very invested in learning more about the civic process and getting engaged in politics. 

Q: How connected do you feel to your local politics? Would the ability to vote change that? 

A: I feel like there is a disconnect between local politicians, and I’ve met others who feel the same. Leaders in my community don’t always seem to truly care for my demographic’s concerns or presence. They tend to make it look like it, but rarely does it actually translate into their policies. Left and right, students in this district are complaining about the facilities, even bathrooms, or just getting bus tickets to commute to school. These are concerns that are yet to be solved or even approached, and they’re the same issues many Jersey City students feel strongly about. Allowing the right to vote would change that because we’d become a demographic leaders and local politicians have to look at, to earn our vote. I think that’s something that would make a change, but also a connection that all sides can benefit from. 

Q: Do you think local politicians would feel more drive to appeal to your needs as a young voter?

A: I definitely think local politicians would feel a drive to appeal to me and others like me as a young voter since we’re going to be voters at the local level, and our concerns will have to be met to earn our votes. 

Q: How expansive would you say your civic education has been? Where have you learned about civics from, if at all?

A: I would like to say my civics education is somewhat expansive due to my interest in that field and understanding my responsibility as a member in society. Most of that has come from my history teachers who have made an effort to inform students. They have emphasized using the tools around you and being informed to make the best decisions around you. 

Q: Do you think lowering the voting age is enough incentive to get people to vote? If not, what do you recommend? 

A: Yes, especially for the students of Jersey City. A good majority of students that I have spoken to express concern over the current state. They want their voices heard and the ability to foster change. 

Q: If the voting age were lowered for you right now, would you feel prepared to make a decision? 

A: I would say yes to a certain extent due to the fact that I know some of the traits that I would want in a leader. However, I would definitely need to do more research but this would incentive not only myself but other students like me to be more involved.

Ahmed Omer, 18, is Sudanese, and has lived in Jersey City, N.J., nearly all his life. 

Q: Do you plan to vote this year?

A: I do plan to vote this year, yes.

Q: Would you have felt more prepared to vote in this year’s election if you had had the ability to vote earlier on, as a 16 year old?

A: I definitely would have been more prepared to vote in this year’s election if I had started at 16. I’d be more comfortable knowing how to research candidates and be confident in my decisions.

Q: Do you feel like you have a good understanding of why civics matter? Do they matter to you?

A: I’ve always been taught that every voice in an election matters, even from a very young age. So the little lessons like that I think have given me a decent grasp on civics and the importance of them. They definitely matter to me, I care about everyone being able to participate in society and what’s happening in it.

Q: Do you feel like your generation values civics? Would they value them more/less if they could have voted since 16?

A: As for my generation, I don’t think as a whole it matters as much to them since most of us haven’t had the ability to participate in politics and voting, all of these things that make us part of society. They’d matter more to my generation with the right to vote at 16. I think it’d give us the motivation to participate in politics. It starts with having the ability to do so.

Q: How expansive would you say your civic education has been? Where have you learned about civics from, if at all?

A: I would say I had a decent education on civics, and it’s come from a variety of people, whether that’s teachers or friends more politically engaged than I am. I would say that the education I’ve gotten from my schools’ curriculums has been lacking, though. 

Q: Do you think lowering the voting age is enough incentive to get people to vote? If not, what do you recommend?  

A: Lowering the voting age could be a step in the right direction, but it won’t be enough on its own to really increase voter turnout. To get people to vote, we need better civic education programs, to make voting more accessible, and more efforts to highlight the importance of political participation. However, I also recognize that not everyone may feel the same level of preparedness, which is why ongoing civic education is crucial. I think I would be decently prepared, but I would feel comfortable doing the research to fully prepare myself.  However, I also know that not everyone may feel the same level of preparedness, which is why better civic education is crucial.

Devon Sanchez, 18, is Puerto Rican and Irish, and has lived and attended school in Jersey City, N.J., his entire life.

Q: Do you plan to vote this year?

A: I do plan to vote, yes, although I am not heavily active in politics or anything, I do remember being told that if I never voted, I never had a voice. 

Q: Would you have felt more prepared to vote in this year’s election if you had had the ability to vote as a 16-year old?

A: Definitely. Being better exposed to voting early n would have prepared me to weigh my options much more strategically.

Q: Do you feel like you have a good understanding of why civics matter? Do they matter to you?

A: Honestly I don’t feel educated about civics, or really understand what they mean to a great extent. I don’t feel like civics really affects me outside of debating with other people.

Q: Do you feel like your generation values civics? Would they value them more or less if they could have voted since 16?

A: I feel like our generation values civics, but from a more emotional standpoint. With everything going on in the world, I don’t see much of a political standing on these issues so much as an aggressive, more emotional response to the problems we’re facing. I do think we would value the educational aspect of it more because with more exposure there is a more understanding, and I do think that education is something we’re lacking. 

Q: How expansive would you say your civic education has been? Where have you learned about civics from, if at all?

A: Honestly, during my time at William L. Dickinson High School, I really haven’t been exposed to civics, if at all. I would say the only exposure I have gotten has come from my history classes, but even then, it’s not like we’re being educated on how to vote, what polls to go to, or anything like that. 

Q: Do you think lowering the voting age is enough incentive to get people to vote? If not, what would you recommend?

A: Although I think that more exposure to voting leads to a deeper understanding, I think the issue of maturity is important to consider with a lot of these people. 16-year olds, granted a lot of them are smart, and ready to take things seriously – but a lot of them aren’t. I think there’s plenty of kids who would treat it as a joke, or simply not know how to vote because they have no opinion on the platforms people are running with. I think before we can consider lowering the age, we need to have a talk about bettering our education. 

Q: If you had to vote for someone today, in a local election, would you feel prepared to make a decision? 

A: I don’t think I would have a lot of background knowledge to be prepared to do so, but I know I could research, and make an educated decision with my vote.