Age_of_candidacy_laws_in_the_United_States

Age of candidacy laws in the United States

Age of candidacy laws in the United States

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This article delineates the age of candidacy laws of the federal government and individual states of the United States. The US has historically had minimum age requirements for many positions, ranging from President to local members of city council. While there is no maximum age limit or point of forced retirement—other countries like Canada enforce retirement ages on judges[1] and senators[2]—there are term limits in some cases, most notably a limit of 2 full terms for the President of the United States.

Federal government

State government

More information State, Governor ...

* Qualified elector/registered voter requirement.
† State Senate membership requirement.
N.A. implies that such a position does not exist in that state.

Alaska

  • Any public office: at least 30 (qualified voter requirement)[24]

Arizona

  • Any public office: at least 18[25]

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Georgia

  • Any public office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[31]

Hawaii

  • Neighborhood Board Member: 18

Idaho

Illinois

  • Comptroller: 25[3]
  • School Board Member: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[33]

Indiana

  • Mayor: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[34]

Iowa

  • Any elected office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[35]

Louisiana

  • Treasurer: 25
  • School Board Member: 18 (qualified voter requirement) [36]

Maryland

  • Circuit Court Judge: 30[7]
  • County Sheriff: 25[7]
  • Other county offices: vary according to local law[7]
  • Any public office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[37]

Massachusetts

  • Most offices: 18

Michigan

Governor or Lieutenant Governor: 30

State Senate or State House: 21

Judge: Licensed to practice law

All other offices: 18 (must be a registered and qualified elector)

Minnesota

  • Many offices: 21[38]

Montana

  • Mayor: at least 21[39]

Nebraska

Nevada

  • Any public office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[40]

New Mexico

  • Most offices: 18 (qualified elector requirement)[41]

New York

  • Comptroller: 30[13]
  • State Senator: 18[42]
  • State Assembly:18[42]

North Carolina

North Dakota

  • Mayor/council: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[44]

Oklahoma

  • State, county, and municipal public offices: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[45]

Oregon

  • Sheriff: 21
  • Other county and local offices: 18[46]
  • Justice of the Peace: 18

Pennsylvania

  • Mayors of Third-Class Cities: 18[47]

Rhode Island

  • Any elected office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[48]

South Carolina

South Dakota

  • Public Utilities Commissioner: 25
  • Mayor/alderman: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[50]

Tennessee

  • Supreme Court Judge: 35
  • Other state judges: 30
  • County mayor/county executive: 30
  • Sheriff: 25
  • Constable: 21
  • County School Board Member: 18 (registered voter requirement)
  • State House of Representatives: 21
  • State Senate: 35
  • Governor: 30

Texas

  • Any public office: at least 19 (qualified voter requirement) [51]

Vermont

  • Town officials: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[52][53]

Virginia

  • Any office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[54]

Washington

  • Any office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[55]

Wisconsin

  • Any city office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[56]

Wyoming

  • Any municipal office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[57]

Local government

Many states require elected municipal officers to be over 18 years of age or be a registered voter in the city thereof. Montana requires mayors to be at least 21 years of age.

As of November 2016, most U.S. cities with populations exceeding 200,000 required their mayor to be a registered voter in the city thereof or at least 18 years of age. Here are the following exceptions:

  • 30 Years: Denver, CO; Honolulu, HI; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; St. Louis, MO
  • 25 Years: Baltimore, MD; Colorado Springs, CO; Columbus, GA; Glendale, AZ; Kansas City, MO; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC Westminster, MD
  • 21 Years: Louisville, KY, Oklahoma City, OK; Aurora, CO; Minneapolis, MN;[58] Saint Paul, MN[59]


  • 19 Years: Hialeah, FL (qualified voter requirement + 1 year of residence)
  • No Age Minimum Listed or Implied: Pittsburgh, PA; Wichita, KS; Jersey City, NJ; Buffalo, NY; Yonkers, NY; Troy, NC
  • Data unavailable: Birmingham, AL; Newark, NJ

Baltimore

  • City Comptroller, and City Council President: 25[7]
  • City Council Member: 21[7]

References

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    Maine Constitution Article IV, Part 1.
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