A birthday on election day counts.
Someone turning 16 on election day meets the age requirement. Someone whose birthday falls the next day has not yet met it for that election. Eligibility is therefore not simply based on the calendar year of the sixteenth birthday.
Subject to the other conditions, German citizens and citizens of other EU member states can vote. They must have had their home, or main home if they have several, in the relevant municipality or county for at least 37 days. The law also covers habitual presence without a home. They must not be excluded from voting by a court ruling.
The other three answers
The question asks for the minimum age to vote, rather than to stand as a candidate.
14
Fourteen is too young. Political interest or participation in a youth body does not replace the statutory age requirement.
18
Eighteen is not the minimum age for casting a vote here. It is, however, a separate requirement for being elected to a local representative body.
20
Nobody has to wait until 20 because of the age threshold alone. If all conditions are met, voting is possible from 16.
Voting and candidate eligibility have different conditions.
For municipal and county councils, distinguish the right to vote from eligibility to be elected. Section 6 normally requires candidates to be 18 and to have lived or been habitually present in the electoral area for three months. Further disqualifications apply, and mayoral offices have special rules.
A residence permit alone does not confer local voting rights. Citizens of other EU states do not first have to become German citizens, however. Also avoid applying the number 16 to every other election or federal state without checking.
Sections 4–6 · Voting and standing · Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s election law ↗M-V + local election = from 16.
Sixteen for casting a vote; check the other requirements separately.
Three words for this question
- das aktive Wahlrechtright to vote
- The right to cast a vote.
- die Wählbarkeiteligibility to stand
- Legal eligibility to be elected.
- die Hauptwohnungmain residence
- The legally relevant main home when someone has several homes.