TRENTON - The Senate Education Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Raj Mukherji and Vin Gopal that would require each school district’s board of education to incorporate instruction on voting in the Social Studies curriculum for students in grade 12.

“In New Jersey’s 2024 general election, only 52% of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 24 participated in the electoral process,” said Senator Mukerji (D-Hudson). “This age group continues to have some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country. With numbers like these, we need to do a better job of engaging young voters as early as possible. By making these lessons part of the classroom experience, we can make sure students understand not only why voting matters, but also how to participate in the process.”

In 2024, former Governor Phil Murphy signed the New Voter Empowerment Act, which allows 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they are set to turn 18 by the general election. This law took effect in January of this year.

“With such an important law now in effect, our young voters need to be properly educated on how this impacts them on an individual basis,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). “This legislation would additionally work hand in hand with the High School Voter Registration Law, which requires schools to educate and register students before their graduation. We need to focus not only on expanding access to voting, but also on ensuring students have the knowledge and confidence to participate in our democracy.”

The bill, S-2912, requires instruction on topics such as the importance of voting, the role and responsibilities of voters, voter registration and eligibility, and how to vote. Course material would also include information on local polling places and how to request an absentee or mail-in ballot.

Each school district would be permitted to collaborate with election officials to develop the curriculum. In addition, they could collaborate with local boards of elections when providing students with pre-registration or registration forms.