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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

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In the United States, a person must be aged 35 or over to serve as president. To be a senator, a person must be aged 30 or over. To be a Representative, a person must be aged 25 or older. This is specified in the U.S. Constitution. Most states in the U.S. also have age requirements for the offices of Governor, State Senator, and State Representative.[74] Some states have a minimum age requirement to hold any elected office (usually 21 or 18).

State government

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State Governor Upper House Lower House Lieutenant Governor Attorney General Secretary of State Treasurer
Alabama 30 25 21 30 25 25 25
Alaska 30 25 21 30 18* N.A. 18*
Arizona 25 25 25 N.A. 25 25 25
Arkansas 30 25 21 30 18* 18* 18
California 18* 18* 18* 18* 18* 18* 18*
Colorado 30 25 25 30 25 25 25
Connecticut 30 18* 18* 30 18 None 18*
Delaware 30 27 24 30 None None None
Florida 30 21 21 30 30 None 25
Georgia 30 25 21 30 25 25 18*
Hawaii 30 25 18 30 None N.A. None
Idaho 30 18* 18* 30 30 25 25
Illinois 25[3] 21 21 25[3] 25 25 25
Indiana 30 25 21 30 None 18*
Iowa 30 25 21 30 18 18*
Kansas 25[4] 18* 18* 25[4] None None
Kentucky 30[5] 30 24[5] 30 30 30 30
Louisiana 30 30 18 25 25 25 25
Maine 30 [6] 25* 21* N.A. None None
Maryland 30[7] 25[7] 21[7] 30[7] 18* 18*
Massachusetts 25[8] 25 18 18* 18 18 18
Michigan 30[9] 21[9] 21[9] 30[9] None 18*
Minnesota 25 21 21 25[10] 21 21
Mississippi 30 25 21 20 26 25 25
Missouri 30 30 24 30 None None
Montana 30 None None 25 25 25
Nebraska 30 21 N.A. 30 None None
Nevada 25 21 21 25 18* 18* 18*
New Hampshire 30[11] 30[11] 18[11] N.A. 18* 18*
New Jersey 30[12] 30[12] 21 30 None None
New Mexico 30 25 21 30 30 30 30
New York 30[13] 18[13] 18[13] 30[13] 30 None 30
North Carolina 30[14] 25[15] 21[16] 30[14] None 21 21
North Dakota 30 19* 18* 30 25 25 25
Ohio 18 18 18 None 18 18 18
Oklahoma 31[17] 25[17] 21[17] 31 31 31 31
Oregon 30 21 21 N.A. 18 18
Pennsylvania 30 25 21 30 30 None None
Rhode Island 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
South Carolina 30[18] 25[19] 21[19] 30 18* 18*
South Dakota 21 21 21 21 None None
Tennessee 30 30 21[20] 30† 18 None
Texas 30 26 21 30 18 18* 18*
Utah 30 25 25 30 25 N.A. 25
Vermont 18 [21] None None None None None
Virginia 30[22] 21[23] 21[23] 30 30 18* 18*
Washington 18* 18* 18* 18* 18* 18* 18*
West Virginia 30 18 18 N.A. 25 18* 18
Wisconsin 18 18 18 18* 18* 18* 18
Wyoming 30 25 21 N.A. 18* 25 25

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

Alaska

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

Arizona

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  • Any public office: at least 18[25]

California

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Colorado

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Connecticut

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Georgia

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

Hawaii

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  • Neighborhood Board Member: 18

Idaho

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Illinois

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

Indiana

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

Iowa

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

Louisiana

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

Maryland

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  • 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

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  • Most offices: 18

Michigan

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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

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  • Many offices: 21[38]

Montana

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  • Mayor: at least 21[39]

Nebraska

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Nevada

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

New Mexico

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

New York

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

North Carolina

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North Dakota

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

Oklahoma

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

Oregon

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

Pennsylvania

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

Rhode Island

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

South Carolina

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South Dakota

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

Tennessee

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  • 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: 30
  • Governor: 30

Texas

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

Vermont

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

Virginia

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

Washington

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

Wisconsin

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

Wyoming

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

Local government

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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

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

References

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  1. ^ Payton, Laura (October 4, 2011). "Court closes judge retirement age loophole". CBC News.
  2. ^ Nixon, Geoff (July 30, 2023). "The U.S. Senate is steadily aging — but members leave on their own terms". CBC News.
  3. ^ a b c "Article V, Section 3". Constitution of the State of Illinois. Illinois General Assembly. December 15, 1970. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  4. ^ a b KWCH (May 18, 2018). "New law sets minimum age for Kansas governor candidates". KWCH.
  5. ^ a b "072". Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  6. ^ Maine Constitution Article IV, Part 1.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Qualifications for Filing Candidacy".
  8. ^ Galvin, William Francis (March 2017). "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts" (PDF). Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Article V, Section 22" (PDF). Michigan Constitution. State of Michigan. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  10. ^ Archived copy Archived 2010-07-29 at the Wayback Machine, Section 2
  11. ^ a b c "Qualifications for Office". New Hampshire Secretary of State. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  12. ^ a b "New Jersey Constitution | NJ Legislature". New Jersey Legislature. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Running for Office | New York State Board of Elections".
  14. ^ a b "Article III, Section 2". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  15. ^ "Article II, Section 6". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Article VI, Section 6". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  17. ^ a b c "Section VI-3".
  18. ^ "Article IV, Section 2". South Carolina Constitution. South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Article III, Section 7". South Carolina Constitution. South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  20. ^ "Qualifying Procedures for Tennessee House of Representatives". Tennessee Secretary of State. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022.
  21. ^ "Governor of Vermont". Ballotpedia. Retrieved Sep 15, 2023.
  22. ^ "Constitution of Virginia - Article V. Executive".
  23. ^ a b "Constitution of Virginia - Article IV. Legislature".
  24. ^ "Alaska Statutes Title 15. Elections § 15.25.180". Findlaw. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  25. ^ "View Document". Arizona State Legislature. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017.
  26. ^ "California Constitution Article IV Sec. 2(c)". California Office of Legislative Counsel. June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  27. ^ "California Constitution Article V Sec. 2". California Office of Legislative Counsel. November 6, 1990. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "California Constitution Article V Sec. 9". California Office of Legislative Counsel. November 5, 1974. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  29. ^ "California Government Code § 24001". California Office of Legislative Counsel. January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  30. ^ "California Government Code § 34904". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  31. ^ "2015 Georgia Code :: Title 21 - ELECTIONS :: Chapter 2 - ELECTIONS AND PRIMARIES GENERALLY :: Article 4 - SELECTION AND QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS :: Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS :: § 21-2-132 - Filing notice of candidacy, nomination petition, and affidavit; payment of qualifying fee; pauper's affidavit and qualifying petition for exemption from qualifying fee; military service". Justia Law. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  32. ^ "2016 Idaho Statutes :: Title 50 - MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS :: Chapter 6 - MAYOR :: Section 50-601 - QUALIFICATIONS".
  33. ^ "Your School Board and You" (PDF).
  34. ^ Archived copy Archived 2017-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, Article 8. Candidates
  35. ^ "Qualifications for public office" (PDF). legis.iowa.gov. 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  36. ^ "ABCB, Qualifications for School Board Members".
  37. ^ "Article - Election Law" (PDF). Maryland General Assembly. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  38. ^ "Minnesota Secretary Of State - Candidate Qualifications". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  39. ^ "7-4-4301. Qualifications for mayor, MCA".
  40. ^ "NRS 281.010 Elected and appointed officers". leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  41. ^ "New Mexico One Source of Law®". Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  42. ^ a b "Running for Office | New York State Board of Elections".
  43. ^ "GS_163-294.2.pdf" (PDF). North Carolina General Assembly. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 4, 2022.
  44. ^ "North Dakota Century Code" (PDF). ndlegis.gov. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Candidate Must be Registered - Exceptions".
  46. ^ "Chapter 249 - Candidates; Recall". Oregon State Legislature. 2021. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  47. ^ "Pennsylvania Statutes Title 11 Pa.C.S.A. Cities § 11201. Qualifications". FindLaw. January 1, 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  48. ^ "Title 17 - Elections". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022.
  49. ^ "Article V, Section 15". South Carolina Constitution. South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  50. ^ "South Dakota Legislature".
  51. ^ "Texas Constitution and Statutes - Error".
  52. ^ "Vermont Laws".
  53. ^ "Vermont Laws".
  54. ^ "24.2-500. Qualification of candidates".
  55. ^ "RCW 29A.24.075: Qualifications for filing, appearance on ballot".
  56. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter 62".
  57. ^ "Article 3 - Nominations". State of Wyoming Legislature. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017.
  58. ^ "Eligibility to hold office". Minneapolis, MN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023.
  59. ^ "Candidate Filing". Ramsey County, MN. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023.
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