The election date determines whether the age condition is met.
Someone turning 18 on election day meets the age condition. Someone turning 18 the following day is still too young on that election day. The birth year alone is not enough.
The rule concerns local elections in Saarland, such as municipal, town and county council elections. The law also requires German or another EU nationality and, normally, a home in the municipality for at least three months. Where someone has several homes, the main residence counts.
The other three answers
Do not mix up ages across election types and federal states.
14
At 14, Saarland’s local voting-age threshold has not yet been reached. Political interests or participation in youth projects are a separate matter.
16
16 is not correct here. In 2024, the state returning officer explicitly distinguished European elections from 16 from local elections from 18. The current local rule is in section 13.
20
You do not need to wait until 20. Turning 18 satisfies the age condition.
Age alone does not establish full voting eligibility.
A court-imposed loss of voting rights excludes participation. Voting also follows the rules on the electoral register or polling certificate. The test question checks only the age threshold.
Local electoral law is governed by state law. News about voting from 16 in another federal state does not automatically change Saarland’s rule. Always check the election type, place and current law.
Section 13 · Eligibility to vote · Saarland Municipal Elections Act ↗Saarland, local election: 18 on election day.
Learn the combination of state, election type and age.
Three words for this question
- das Mindestalterminimum age
- The age that must at least have been reached.
- vollendetcompleted; reached
- The 18th year of life is completed on the 18th birthday.
- die Hauptwohnungmain residence
- Where someone has several homes, the home relevant to this voting eligibility.