The age threshold is one of several conditions.
The phrase “completed the 18th year of life” means the eighteenth birthday has been reached. Someone turning 18 after election day has not yet met the age condition for that election. Someone turning 18 on election day meets it that day.
Local elections concern the local level, such as municipal and district councils and mayoral and district administrator offices. The active right to vote is the right to cast a vote yourself. It must not be confused with the separate conditions for standing as a candidate.
The other three answers
The question asks for the lowest permitted age, not any age above it.
14
At 14, the legal age threshold for Bavarian municipal and district elections has not been reached.
16
16 is too young for these Bavarian local elections. Rules from other states or other elections must not be transferred.
20
A 20-year-old can also vote if eligible. But 20 is wrong as the minimum age because voting is possible from 18.
Residence and citizenship remain relevant.
The law covers Germans and citizens of the other EU member states. Living in Bavaria alone is therefore insufficient. The normal two-month residence condition concerns the main centre of a person’s life; the law contains an exception for certain people returning after moving away.
This guide does not replace checking a specific move or electoral register case. If uncertain, the municipality and official election information are the appropriate sources. The exam question itself asks only for the age number.
Article 1 GLKrWG · Right to vote · Bavarian local election law ↗Bavaria + local election + minimum age = 18.
Age is assessed on election day; other eligibility conditions also apply.
Three words for this question
- wahlberechtigteligible to vote
- Entitled to cast a vote in a particular election.
- die UnionsbürgerschaftEU citizenship
- Citizenship of a member state of the European Union.
- der Wahltagelection day
- The day to which the statutory age condition relates.