11

After the US Presidential elections there have been some calls to introduce an upper age limit for their position. Similar opinions exist about the age of Senators, Congressmen and Supreme Court judges. Others have also called for the establishment of an upper limit for voters.

Are there any countries which have actually implemented a maximum age policy in elections?

Improve this question
1
  • 1
    In Norway, the upper age limit for supreme court judges is 70 years, the same as for most other government jobs. However, both the hiring process and the role of the judges is quite different from the US. As for politicians, there are no limits on age or number of re-elections.
    – Abulafia
    Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 11:39

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
14

In the Netherlands the maximum age for mayors is 69, and one of their mayors is stepping down after reaching this limit. Beyond that I don't know of any age restrictions on running for election.

(Personal opinion) I believe that age limits in democratic elections are generally a bad idea. Its up to the voters to decide who is fit to serve, not whoever happened to be writing the laws at the time.

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    Arguably, at a certain age — or, more specifically, at a certain physical/mental health condition — a person can no longer cast their vote independently, which opens a broad range of possible abuses and manipulation. Since there's no gauge for "health" or "being independent", they try to gauge for "age", at least.
    – Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
    Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 3:13
  • 2
    @bytebuster - while not wholly false, the obvious - and correct - rebuttal is Heinlein's critique of minimal voting age in Starship Troopers: "I have never been able to see how a thirty-year-old moron can vote more wisely than a fifteen-year-old genius". Basically, age is a very very poor proxy of anything meaningful.
    – user4012
    Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 6:29
  • 3
    @user4012, it's because there is some difference between voting wisely and the voting independently. But yes, there seems to be no good and simple proxy for a census.
    – Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
    Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 7:04
  • 2
    Unfortunately this is not a real answer to the question; the question is about elections, and mayors in the Netherlands are appointed, not elected. In 2005, a proposed change in the constitution was very close to passing, but did not get a 2/3 majority in the Dutch senate ("Nacht van Van Thijn").
    – user12886
    Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 12:43
8

In Pennsylvania in the United States (US), there is an upper age limit for judges (75; used to be 70). In Vermont, the maximum age is 90. Pennsylvania has initial elections for state Supreme Court judges followed by retention elections every ten years. The maximum age forces retirement early, before the retention election.

There may be maximum ages for some positions in the US, but not any of the federal elections.

Maximum ages for voters would be blocked in the US without a constitutional amendment. All citizens eighteen and over can vote unless relieved by due process of law (after criminal acts). For federal positions would also be problematic, although the precedents would be less clear.

Improve this answer
6

Uganda used to have an upper age limit for presidential qualifications.

A person is not qualified for election as President unless that person is—

(a) a citizen of Uganda by birth;

(b) not less than thirty-five years and not more than seventy-five years of age

[...]

Chapter 102, Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995

The 2017 amendment to the constitution removed this upper limit.

Improve this answer
0
3

The Pope, who is the head of the state of Vatican City, is elected by the College of Cardinals. Since 1970, cardinals over the age of 80 are not eligible to vote, though they can still be elected.

This age limit has been confirmed by the current Apostolic Constitution on papal elections, Universi Dominici gregis.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .