STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman JAMEL C. HOLLEY
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman ARTHUR BARCLAY
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Chaparro, Assemblymen Wimberly, Chiaravalloti, Coughlin, Kennedy, Assemblywomen Caride, Jasey, Assemblyman McKeon, Assemblywomen Pinkin and Murphy
SYNOPSIS
“New Voter Empowerment Act”; permits 17 year olds to vote in primary election if they turn 18 years old before next succeeding general election.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning eligibility to vote in a primary election for the general election and designated as the “New Voter Empowerment Act,” and supplementing chapter 23 of Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.19:4-1 to the contrary, any registered voter who is 17 years of age prior to the date on which a primary election for the general election is held shall be permitted to vote in that primary election if the registered voter attains 18 years of age on or before the day of the next succeeding general election.
2. This act shall take effect on January 1st next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill, designated as the “New Voter Empowerment Act,” permits any registered voter who is 17 years of age prior to the date on which a primary election for the general election is held to vote in that primary election if the registered voter attains 18 years of age on or before the day of the next succeeding general election.
A recent enactment allows certain 17 year-olds to register to vote. P.L.2015, c.222 amended N.J.S.A.19:31-5 to provide that a person who is at least 17 years of age may register to vote if the person will be at least 18 at the time of the election. Such persons are designated in the Statewide voter registration system as temporarily ineligible to vote until their 18th birthday.