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A 2688

Requires the board of elections to check all registered voter's citizenship and lawful permanent resident status and requires all voters to show government issued identification to vote

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ken Blankenbush and 8 co-sponsors

Requires high school graduation only after passing a 100-question civics test (60 correct) for ninth graders, with retakes yearly until passing.

REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
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Bill Summary · A 2688

Bill A-2688 — Summary

Note: The bill’s published short title in the request mentions voter identification and citizenship checks, but the introduced text provided for A-2688 concerns high school graduation requirements and a civics-test component. This summary reflects the introduced content as published, focusing on the civics-test graduation requirements rather than any voter-ID provisions.

Overview

  • Bill number: A-2688
  • Primary topic (as introduced): High school graduation requirements tied to a civics-test grade, modeled on the civics portion of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test.
  • Status: Referred to Election Law (as of January 22, 2025). Previously introduced in the Assembly and referred to Assembly Education.
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Sponsors: Primary sponsor Keith Brown; several cosponsors listed, including Brian Manktelow, Jerett Gandolfo, Joe DeStefano, David McDonough, Lester Chang, Andrew Molitor, Philip Palmesano, Kenneth Blankenbush.

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to ensure that high school graduates demonstrate knowledge of civics by requiring a standardized civics test. The core intent is to link civics competency to the ability to graduate from high school, with a formal mechanism to document completion on the student’s transcript.

Key provisions

  • Requirement to pass civics test for graduation:
    • Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year (as stated in the text), districts must require a student to correctly answer at least 60 of 100 questions on a test identical to the civics portion of the USCIS naturalization test.
  • Test administration:
    • The test is to be administered to ninth-grade students first.
    • If a student does not pass, they must retake the test in each subsequent school year until a passing score is achieved.
    • The Board of Education determines the method and manner of administering the test.
  • Documentation:
    • Districts must document on the student’s high school transcript that the student has passed the civics test.
  • Effective date:
    • The act is stated to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected parties and impacts

  • Students: Ninth-grade students (and all subsequent grades) must achieve a passing score to graduate; those who do not pass must retake annually until they do.
  • School districts/Boards of Education: Responsible for administering the test, determining administration methods, and recording passage on transcripts.
  • School transcripts: Must reflect that the student has successfully completed the civics test.
  • Potential broader impact: Increased civics knowledge outcomes among graduates; additional administrative requirements for districts; potential implications for graduation timelines if students struggle with the test.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Legislative history:
    • 2024-01-09: Introduced in the Assembly; referred to Assembly Education.
    • 2025-01-22: Referred to Election Law (noted as a subsequent referral).
  • Status reflects current designation as “REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW,” indicating ongoing committee consideration as of the latest update.
  • The introduced text uses 2015-2016 as the starting point for the requirement, which may reflect legislative drafting placeholders or alignment with prior year cycles.

Additional context

  • Discrepancy to flag: The provided title in the bill information references voter citizenship checks and voter ID requirements, which do not appear in the introduced text. Readers should consult the latest official bill language and fiscal/legislative materials for any amendments or clarified scope.

If you’d like, I can also compare this bill to similar civics-testing graduation provisions in other states or provide potential policy implications for educators and districts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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