Today marks the first election where students as young as 16 can vote in the Newark School Board election.

Last August, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice released Let Us Vote: Why 16-and-17-Year-Olds Should Be Allowed to Vote in Local Elections and Beyond, a policy brief arguing municipalities in New Jersey should lower the voting age to 16 for local and school board elections. New Jersey joins cities in California, Vermont, and Maryland in lowering the age.

There are 11 candidates running for three at-large seats in the general election.

The lower voting age means that over 7,000 16- and 17-year-olds had the opportunity to register.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said, "Today's vote will energize our youth and elections, and our school boards and communities will reap the benefits."

Only 3% of people turned out to vote in Newark's last school board election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find your polling location here.