Age of candidacy laws in the United States
This article delineates the age of candidacy laws of the federal government and individual states of the United States.
Federal government
- President of the United States and Vice President of the United States: 35 (Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution & Amendment XII of the United States Constitution)
- United States Senator: 30 (Article I, Section 3, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution)
- United States Representative: 25 (Article I, Section 2, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution)
State government
| 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[1] | 21 | 21 | 25[1] | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Indiana | 30 | 25 | 21 | 30 | None | 18* | |
| Iowa | 30 | 25 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 18* | |
| Kansas | 25[2] | 18* | 18* | 25[2] | None | None | |
| Kentucky | 30[3] | 30 | 24[3] | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Louisiana | 25 | 30 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Maine | 30 [4] | 25* | 21* | N.A. | None | None | |
| Maryland | 30[5] | 25[5] | 21[5] | 30[5] | 18* | 18* | |
| Massachusetts | 25[6] | 25 | 18 | 18* | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Michigan | 30[7] | 21[7] | 21[7] | 30[7] | None | 18* | |
| Minnesota | 25 | 21 | 21 | 25[8] | 21 | 21 | |
| Mississippi | 20 | 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[9] | 30[9] | 18[9] | N.A. | 18* | 18* | |
| New Jersey | 30 | 30 | 21 | 30 | None | None | |
| New Mexico | 30 | 25 | 21 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| New York | 30[10] | 18[10] | 18[10] | 30[10] | 30 | None | 30 |
| North Carolina | 30[11] | 25[12] | 21[13] | 30[11] | None | 21 | 21 |
| North Dakota | 30 | 18* | 18* | 30 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Ohio | 18 | 18 | 18 | None | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 31[14] | 25[14] | 21[14] | 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[15] | 25[16] | 21[16] | 30 | 18* | 18* | |
| South Dakota | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | None | None | |
| Tennessee | 30 | 30 | 21[17] | 30† | 18 | None | |
| Texas | 30 | 26 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 18* | 18* |
| Utah | 25 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 25 | N.A. | 25 |
| Vermont | None | None | None | None | None | None | |
| Virginia | 30[18] | 21[19] | 21[19] | 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
Astride Any public office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[20]
Arizona
- Any public officer: at least 18[21]
California
- Any public office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[22]
Colorado
- Any public office: at least 18[23]
Georgia
- Any public office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[24]
Hawaii
- Neighborhood Board Member: 18
Idaho
- Mayor: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[25]
Indiana
- Mayor: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[27]
Iowa
- Any elected office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[28]
Louisiana
- Treasurer: 25
- School Board Member: 18
Maryland
Massachusetts
- Most offices: 21
Michigan
Most offices: 21 or 30
School Board: 18
Minnesota
- Many offices: 21[30]
Montana
- Mayor: at least 21[31]
Nebraska
- Mayor: at least 51[32]
Nevada
- Any public office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[33]
New Mexico
- Most offices: 18 (qualified elector requirement)[34]
North Dakota
- Mayor/council: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[38]
Oklahoma
- State, county, and municipal public offices: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[39]
Oregon
- Sheriff: 21
- Other county and local offices: 18[40]
- Justice of the Peace: 18
Pennsylvania
- Mayors of Third-Class Cities: 18[41]
Rhode Island
- Any elected office: 18 (qualified voter requirement)[42]
South Carolina
- Judicial: 32[43]
South Dakota
- Public Utilities Commissioner: 25
- Mayor/alderman: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[44]
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)
Texas
- Any public office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement) [45]
Virginia
- Any office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[48]
Washington
- Any office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[49]
Wisconsin
- Any city office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[50]
Wyoming
- Any municipal office: at least 18 (qualified voter requirement)[51]
Local government
Many states require elected municipal officers to be at least 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
- 19 Years: Hialeah, FL (qualified voter requirement + 1 year of residence)
- No Age Minimum Listed or Implied: Baton Rouge, LA; Minneapolis, MN; Pittsburgh, PA; Saint Paul, MN; Wichita, KS; Jersey City, NJ; Buffalo, NY; Yonkers, NY; Troy, NC
- Data unavailable: Birmingham, AL; Newark, NJ
References
- "Article V, Section 3". Constitution of the State of Illinois. Illinois General Assembly. December 15, 1970. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- KWCH (May 18, 2018). "New law sets minimum age for Kansas governor candidates". KWCH.
- "072". Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- Maine Constitution Article IV, Part 1.
- http://www.elections.state.md.us/candidacy/qualifications.html
- https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates-Guide-generic.pdf
- "Article V, Section 22" (PDF). Michigan Constitution. State of Michigan. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/mncon/Article5.htm, Section 2
- http://www.nh.gov/constitution/governor.html, Article 42
- http://www.elections.ny.gov/RunningOffice.html
- "Article III, Section 2". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- "Article II, Section 6". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- "Article VI, Section 6". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- http://oklegal.onenet.net/okcon/VI-3.html
- "Article IV, Section 2". South Carolina Constitution. South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- "Article III, Section 7". South Carolina Constitution. South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/05-06/46-tnconst.pdf
- http://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article5/section3/
- http://law.lis.virginia.gov/constitution/article4/section4/
- http://codes.findlaw.com/ak/title-15-elections/ak-st-sect-15-25-180.html, Title 15
- http://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azleg.gov%2Fars%2F38%2F00201.htm
- http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=34904.&article=3.&highlight=true&keyword=mayor+elector+voter, Article 3. Elective Mayor
- http://web.lexisnexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=9e9836b085fa7b5a93b79ba47973ff6a&csvc=toc2doc&cform=searchForm&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVzk-zSkAb&_md5=2a867ad9288cad190ba5e150c582f536
- http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2015/title-21/chapter-2/article-4/part-1/section-21-2-132/, 21-2-132f
- http://law.justia.com/codes/idaho/2016/title-50/chapter-6/section-50-601
- "Your School Board and You" (PDF).
- http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2013/ic/titles/003/articles/008/chapters/001/pdf Archived 2017-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, Article 8. Candidates
- https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2017/39.27.pdf
- http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2017RS/Statute_Web/gel/gel.pdf, Maryland Election Law 5-301
- http://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/become-a-candidate/candidate-qualifications/, Candidate Qualifications
- http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0070/chapter_0040/part_0430/section_0010/0070-0040-0430-0010.html
- http://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=17-107
- https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-281.html#NRS281Sec010, NRS 281.040
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2017-04-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- https://www.elections.ny.gov/RunningOffice.html
- https://www.elections.ny.gov/RunningOffice.html
- http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-294.2.pdf, North Carolina Statutes Chapter 163
- http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t40c08.pdf#nameddest=40-08-14
- https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=438654
- https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors249.html, Chapter 249
- http://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-11-pacsa-cities/pa-csa-sect-11-11201.html, Title 11
- http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE17/17-14/17-14-1.HTM, Rhode Island 17-14-1
- "Article V, Section 15". South Carolina Constitution. South Carolina Legislature. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- http://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=9-8-1.1
- http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/DocViewer.aspx?DocKey=GV%2fGV.601&Phrases=qualified%7cvoter&HighlightType=1&ExactPhrase=False&QueryText=qualified+voter
- http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/17/055/02646
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/17/043/02121
- http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/24.2-500/
- http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.24.075
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/62
- http://legisweb.state.wy.us/NXT/gateway.dll/2016%20Wyoming%20Statutes/2016%20Titles/1195/1234/1237?f=templates$fn=document-frameset.htm$q=%5Brank%3A%5Bsum%3A%5Bstem%3Aqualified%5D%5Bstem%3Avoter%5D%5D%5D$x=server$3.0#LPHit1 Archived 2017-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, Article 3 - Nominations
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