A birthday alone does not explain all voting requirements.
The law covers Germans within the meaning of the Basic Law and citizens of other EU member states. On election day they must be at least 18 and have had a residence in the municipality for at least three months; where they have several homes, the main residence counts. They must not be legally excluded from voting.
Local elections concern local government, such as a municipal council. The Landtag, by contrast, is the federal state’s parliament. When studying, pay attention to the precise election and state instead of applying one age threshold to every election.
The other three answers
This question uses Rhineland-Palatinate’s local voting age.
14
At 14, the statutory minimum age for this local election has not been reached. Political interest and eligibility to vote are different things.
16
16 is not correct here. Another federal state or election type may use a different rule; this question requires 18.
20
20 is not the minimum age: someone who meets the other statutory conditions at 18 does not need to wait another two years.
Distinguish voting age from individual eligibility.
The short test answer does not replace checking a specific voting situation. After moving, with several homes or when unsure about registration, the responsible election authority is the appropriate contact.
Standing as a candidate concerns eligibility to be elected. Legally, that differs from eligibility to cast a vote. This question expressly asks about voting, not candidacy.
Section 1 · eligibility to vote · Rhineland-Palatinate Local Elections Act ↗Local election in Rhineland-Palatinate → from 18 on election day.
Remember the election type, federal state and age together.
Three words for this question
- wahlberechtigteligible to vote
- Someone meeting the legal requirements to cast a vote.
- die Hauptwohnungmain residence
- The relevant principal home when someone has several residences.
- das Wählerverzeichniselectoral register
- The list of people recorded as eligible to vote in the election.