North Dakota Voters Likely to Vote on Initiative that would Add Maximum Age Limit for Congressional Candidates

Posted on by February 16, 2024

On February 12, sponsors of an initiative to impose maximum age limits on congressional candidates submitted their petition to the North Dakota Secretary of State. It needs 31,164 signatures and almost 42,000 signatures were submitted, so it is very likely to qualify for the ballot.

The initiative would not allow anyone to run for Congress if he or she were to attain the age of 81 during the term of office. If the voters pass it, it would probably be held invalid under the 1995 Supreme Court decision that says that neither states nor Congress can add to the constitutional qualifications for Congress that are contained in Article One.

The initiative sponsors understand that, but hope that a new court case could persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its 1995 decision. The decision had been 5-4 and the Court membership has changed since 1995.

Comments

North Dakota Voters Likely to Vote on Initiative that would Add Maximum Age Limit for Congressional Candidates — 26 Comments

  2. There is no reason for an age limit for legislative members. Term limits, maybe, bit NOT age limits.

    There is a need for age limits for executive officers, such as President and Governor. No one should be President who is over 70 years old, IMO.

  5. This should be thrown out in court for being unconstitutional. The US Constitution sets forth the criteria to run for federal offices. States can’t change this or have different criteria than the rest of the country.

  8. What a bizarre initiative. If it passes, any old person could file, and when barred could bring suit. The AG would be required to zealously defend the law.

    I can see the SCOTUS questioning now. “could ND bar people under 50 from running?” “could …”

  10. JR –

    ONLY FOLKS BORN ON FEB 29 IN OUTER SPACE CAN BE CANDIDATES ???

    ANY USA GRAND JURIES IN SMALL POP ND ???

  14. If three-fourths of the states want age limits on all candidates state and federal and then why not age limits on voters too by constitutional amendment. Otherwise state bills are publicity stunts.
    Maybe a quota on how many ballots a person can cast in a lifetime? Blah, blah, a republic not a democracy, but fascist all the way.

  15. AND NO DROOLING MENTAL LOONIES FROM DETROIT WHO REFUSE TO TAKE THEIR MEDS, EITHER!!!!!

  16. Walter Ziobro on February 16, 2024 at 10:51 am said:
    “Lets have a height limit too.”

    Minimum or maximum?
    ——————————

    Good question. lol

    How about this? Everyone would probably agree with this law: I.Q. test?

  18. I tried to get a ND initiative on the ballot that would have fixed some of the states’s ballot access problems, but not enough people signed onto it. Yet, I guess prejudice against older Americans sells.

  19. Edward TJ Brown, what would this initiative have done and when did you try to get it on the ballot?

  21. It would have allowed Ind legislative candidates appear on ballot with a minor party label. Basically, letting the LP of ND get its few legi candidates on the general election ballot.

    This was back in like, wow, 2001, 202 or around then.

  25. @AZ

    US Term Limits was a 5-4 decision, with Justice Clarence Thomas authoring the dissent.

    If a ND case reaches the SCOTUS, US Term Limits could be overturned.

    I wonder how many States have dormant congressional term limits in statute or their Constitution.

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