1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

As a member and/or supporter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and your constituent, I ask that you support (A4369/S3240), which will permit 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in elections for the local school board. School Board decisions directly dictate the quality of their education, the level of discrimination they endure, and even their physical safety from gun violence. Yet, these young Black lives, profoundly impacted by these policies, are silenced at the ballot box. In a state as diverse as ours, where Black students often face systemic barriers to educational equity, this disenfranchisement is unacceptable. New Jersey has a historic opportunity to rectify this injustice and become the first state to grant 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in School Board elections statewide. This legislation, S3240/A4369, would empower nearly 240,000 young people, a significant portion of whom are Black and Brown students who are disproportionately affected by the very decisions they are denied a voice in. These are young people already shouldering 'adult' responsibilities, navigating a system that too often fails them. I urge you to support S3240/A4369 today. It's about ensuring that the voices of Black youth, directly impacted by school policies, are finally heard. Thank You