North Dakota voters pass measure setting age limit for congressional candidates

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP/KFYR) - On Tuesday, voters approved a high-profile initiative that would bar people from running or serving in the U.S. House or Senate if they are to turn 81 years old during their term. 61% of voters voted yes for the measure, 39% voted no.

The ballot measure setting the congressional age cap is intended to avoid age-related and cognitive issues among officeholders, supporters say.

Some legal experts view it as a test case for revisiting a 1995 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against congressional term limits. A state legislative panel attached a $1 million cost estimate to the measure in anticipation of a lengthy legal challenge.

Republican U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, who had no primary challenge to his reelection bid, opposed the measure, saying voters should be able to choose whomever they want.

“To limit those decisions arbitrarily just doesn’t make sense to me,” Cramer said.

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