Teen Voters Shape School Boards | Newark News

New Jersey is considering letting 16- and 17-year-olds vote in school board elections—not to sit on the board, but to choose who does. Supporters argue teens are best positioned to influence education policy because they live it daily, and early voting builds lifelong civic habits. While turnout has been modest in pilot programs like Newark, advocates stress the need for better civic education to empower students. Critics worry teens lack expertise on budgets, but students often know more about how policies affect their learning—like balancing testing with hands-on training. This move could make school boards more accountable and strengthen democracy by giving students a real voice in decisions that shape their futures. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ed01d79650a0c576