17-Year-Olds Can Register to Vote

A recent law change enables every eligible 17-year-old New Jersey citizen to register to vote with the understanding that they may not vote until they become 18. Previous law allowed 17-year-olds to register only if they would turn 18 on or before the next election. This is no longer the case. Seventeen-year-olds can now complete and mail in a voter registration form and will be designated as pending until their 18th birthday. At that time, their designation will change to registered. The League of Women Voters of the Princeton Area asks every eligible 17-year-old to register today. There is no excuse to wait. You can find registration forms online at www.lwvnj.org and on the New Jersey Division of Elections website www.njelections.org. Additionally, a new change at the Motor Vehicle Commission has made it easier for 17-year-olds, and everyone else, to register to vote or update their voting information when obtaining or renewing licenses. Newly installed technology enables MVC customers to indicate if they would like to register and provide an electronic signature using a touch screen computer. The deadline to register to vote for the June 7, 2016 primary election is May 17. The deadline to change party affiliation for the primary is April 13. The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has a toll-free hotline available, 1-800-792-VOTE (8683) to answer any questions. Information about voting in New Jersey is also available at www.lwvnj.org.