Is it legal to vote in the state of New Jersey in the primary if you turn 18 by November election day?

Question

I am trying to determine if it is legal to vote in the New Jersey state presidential primary if you're 17 years old, but turning 18 by November election day.

I honestly thought that it was a nationwide law that 17-year-olds could vote in their primaries as long as they turn 18 by November election day.

Acording to

http://www.njelections.org/voting-information.html

To register in New Jersey you must be: At least 18 years old by the next election

After speaking on the phone with the superintendent of elections in Burlington County NJ, she says that "election" means "whatever it is that you are voting for", meaning you must be 18 on the day you cast your ballot in the primary itself. She could not give me a source to confirm her interpretation.

We also found this:

http://www.nj.gov/state/dos_statutes-elections-31-63.shtml#ele_19_31_5

Each person, who at the time he or she applies for registration resides in the district in which he or she expects to vote, who will be of the age of 18 years or more at the next ensuing election, who is a citizen of the United States, and who, if he or she continues to reside in the district until the next election, will at the time have fulfilled all the requirements as to length of residence to qualify him or her as a legal voter, shall, unless otherwise disqualified, be entitled to be registered in such district.

Is the primary legally "an election"? Thank you for any help and guidance.

Answer 1

According to Wikipedia, nineteen US states allow those who will be 18 by the time of the general election to vote in the related primary or participate in the related caucuses. New Jersey is not among them.

States include: Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_age

The article also notes that

The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents states from "denying" suffrage to 18-year-olds, but does not prevent states from establishing a lower voting age.

That is, federal law establishes 18 as the age by which citizens must be allowed to vote in federal elections. States may, but are not required to, allow younger people to vote.

Answer 2

It will be starting in 2026

Governor Phil Murphy signed the New Voter Empowerment Act early in 2024, which will grant NJ residents who are 17, but will be 18 by the general election, the right to vote in primary elections. The revised law will state:

...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.

Under the current law, you may register to vote if you are 17 but will be 18 by election day, but as you discovered it does not allow for you to vote prior to turning 18.