444. At what age are you entitled to vote in municipal elections in Schleswig-Holstein?

Answer options

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

Explanation

In Schleswig-Holstein the active voting age in municipal elections is 16, as provided in the Land’s Municipal and County Elections Act (Gemeinde- und Kreiswahlgesetz). The design of local electoral law is a Länder competence; Article 28(1) of the Basic Law requires universal, direct, free, equal, and secret elections but leaves the minimum age to the states. The reduction to 16 is part of reform debates since the 1990s aimed at strengthening youth participation, whereas for Bundestag elections Article 38 GG still sets 18. In addition, EU citizens have the franchise in local elections, reflecting the constitutional accommodation of European integration.