344. From what age may one vote in Bremen in elections to the Bürgerschaft (state parliament)?

Answer options

1. 14
2. 16
3. 18
4. 20

Explanation

In Bremen the active voting age for elections to the Bremen Bürgerschaft is 16; the threshold was lowered by Land legislation and first applied in the 2011 election, making Bremen a pioneer among the Länder. Setting the voting age for state elections lies within the Länder’s legislative competence (Art. 70 Basic Law in conjunction with their state constitutions), provided the constitutional principles of electoral law—universal, free, equal, secret, and direct—are respected. Article 38 of the Basic Law (minimum age 18) applies only to Bundestag elections and does not bind the Länder for state or municipal elections. Politically, the reform was justified as enhancing the democratic participation of younger citizens.