NEW JERSEY — A statewide initiative to boost civic participation among young voters led to more than 7,500 New Jersey high school students registering to vote this spring — a 15% increase over last year, state officials announced.
The 2025 New Jersey High School Voter Registration Week Program, spearheaded by Jersey Civic Engage — an initiative of the New Jersey Department of State — in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Education and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey’s Energizing Young Voters program, ran from April 6 through May 20. In that time, 7,558 17- and 18-year-olds registered to vote, up from 6,409 in 2024.
“Registering our youth is critical to protecting and strengthening our democracy,” said Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who oversees Jersey Civic Engage as Secretary of State. “This program reinforces the civic and voter engagement habits that we want to instill in our young people.”
The initiative encourages nonpartisan voter registration efforts in high schools and surrounding communities, aiming to build enthusiasm around civic engagement and create lifelong voting habits.
Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer praised the program’s impact in classrooms.
“This remarkable increase in youth voter registration underscores the vital role our schools play in fostering informed and engaged citizens,” Dehmer said.
The program continues to grow through collaboration with students, educators, and community partners. Organizers hope to reach every eligible high school student in the state in future campaigns.
For more information, visit JerseyCivicEngage.NJ.Gov.
