In a move that has left America's more senior politicians reaching for their reading glasses, North Dakota voters have approved a ballot measure that bars congressional candidates who would turn 81 by the end of the year before their term would expire (CNN, NBC, USA Today). Yes, you read that right—North Dakota has essentially said, "We respect our elders, but maybe it's time for some fresh faces."

The measure gained significant support from voters, capturing a 61% approval rate (CNN, NBC, USA Today). This suggests a growing unease about having leadership that might need both an aide and a nap midway through a State of the Union address. However, it's worth noting that the approved measure is likely to face legal challenges (CNN, NBC, USA Today), primarily because the U.S. Constitution currently sets minimum age requirements but no maximum age limits for Congressional candidates. The U.S. Supreme Court even ruled back in 1995 that states cannot place restrictions on federal representatives beyond what the Constitution specifies (CNN, USA Today).

Not affected by this measure will be North Dakota’s current congressional delegation, all of whom are still spry and sprightly at under 70 (CNN, USA Today). Their reaction to the measure reportedly included muffled giggles and a collective sigh of relief as they realized they won’t have to shuffle out of their seats just yet.

The campaign to put an age limit on congressional candidates was spearheaded by political consultant Jared Hendrix. Hendrix has a track record of pushing for limits, having previously led efforts for term limits on North Dakota state offices (CNN, USA Today). Evidently, Hendrix prefers his democracy like his milk—fresh and within the expiration date.

The core argument driving this ballot measure revolves around concerns over the age of top U.S. leadership. With President Joe Biden, who is 81, and former President Donald Trump, who is turning 78, often cited as examples of the need for an age cap in leadership positions (CNN, NBC, USA Today), it seems that North Dakotans aren't keen on politicians who view early bird dinner specials not as a campaign stop but as a personal favorite.

Further insights reveal that if implemented, this measure would be the first in the nation to impose an age limit on federal office candidates (NBC). That's right, North Dakota could once again find itself on the map—not for oil this time, but for telling those old guys in Washington to start thinking about retirement.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer opposes the measure, advocating for the belief that voters should have the freedom to choose their representatives without age restrictions (NBC). For Sen. Cramer, it seems the best term limit is a term well served, regardless of whether you need a magnifying glass to read your speech.

The campaign, named Retire Congress North Dakota, emphasized that age limits reflect the general retirement age in the U.S., ostensibly nudging aging lawmakers towards leisurely days of fishing and gardening instead of Congressional hearings (USA Today). According to a Pew Research Center study, a significant majority of Americans would support age limits for federal offices, giving congressional hopefuls fair warning: the voters have spoken, and they are officially "over" the over-80 crowd.

Interestingly, the median age of the U.S. Senate is 65.3, while the House has a median age of 57.9, proving once again that youth and vigor are relative terms when it comes to politics (USA Today).

With a grand total of 42,107 signatures, the petition to include the age limit question on the ballot surged past the minimum threshold (USA Today). Now, depending on the legal tussles ahead, North Dakota might just become the pioneering state that finally makes "You’re too old for this job" a constitutional consideration. In the meantime, expect some lively debates, both in the courts and at the local bingo halls.