North Dakota voters will have the opportunity to vote on a ballot measure this June that could potentially prevent individuals from running for Congress if they would turn 81 during their House or Senate term. The initiative, which has been added to the ballot following a successful signature drive, has sparked discussions among legal scholars about its constitutionality and the potential implications it could have on challenging a long-standing Supreme Court precedent.
The proposed age limit would not impact current incumbents, including the oldest member of North Dakota's congressional delegation, Republican Sen. John Hoeven, who is 67. The state has previously had senators in their 80s, such as Democrat Quentin Burdick, who passed away at the age of 84 while in office in 1992.
