Voters in North Dakota on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment that would have imposed age limits on congressional candidates.
New event prohibits people from running for a House or Senate seat in North Dakota “unless that person would have reached the age of 81 by December 31 of the year immediately preceding the expiration of the term.”
On Tuesday, 61% of voters approved the measure and 39% opposed it.
It is believed to be the first in the country to impose an age limit on candidates for federal office, but it is expected to be challenged in court.
The measure, which does not affect any of the current federal officials from North Dakota, comes as voters age-related voice concerns President Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, who turns 78 this week, are each running for another term.
There are currently three senators over 80: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. There is at least 10 Members of Congress More than 80, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Whip Steny Hoyer.
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, who is running for a second full term in the Senate and won an unopposed primary in North Dakota on Tuesday, said he opposes the measure and believes voters should vote for whoever they want, regardless of age.
“It makes no sense to me to arbitrarily limit those decisions,” Kramer said This was reported by the Associated Press agency.