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No change! 18-year- old cannot run for political office-HoA Report

For those young people turning 18 years of age, the most you can do is vote. At this time, the constitution will not be changed to allow 18-year-olds to run for political office. They must wait another three years until they attain the age of 21. Photo: Internet Source
The Committee of the Whole House accepted the recommendation that eligibility to sit in the House should continue to be limited to persons who have attained the age of 21, proposing no constitutional amendment to this area. Photo: Facebook/HoA
The Committee of the Whole House accepted the recommendation that eligibility to sit in the House should continue to be limited to persons who have attained the age of 21, proposing no constitutional amendment to this area. Photo: Facebook/HoA
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- For those young people turning 18 years of age, the most you can do is vote. At this time, the constitution will not be changed to allow 18-year-olds to run for political office. They must wait another three years until they attain the age of 21.

The Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome-led Constitutional Review Commission considered whether to reduce the minimum age for qualification to hold elected office from 21 to 18 years. After reviewing international electoral standards and practice, it recommended that no change be made, and that eligibility to sit in the House should continue to be limited to persons who have attained the age of 21.

The Committee of the Whole House accepted this recommendation and proposed no constitutional amendment to this area.

Rationale of Elected Members

Elected Members noted that the current age requirement reflects a long-standing constitutional settlement and is consistent with international practice, which accepts that the threshold for candidacy may reasonably be set higher than the voting age. 

They also considered that there was no strong evidence that the present rule has hindered participation in elected office to such an extent as to justify constitutional amendment at this time.

Most residents see this as a non-issue and are supportive of it staying at the age of 21 before you can run for public office. 

18 Responses to “No change! 18-year- old cannot run for political office-HoA Report”

  • %100 raise (18/04/2026, 09:33) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    If a horse dead. It don't matter wether they are old or young.
    • jerome (18/04/2026, 14:10) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      18 is too young; they haven't experienced adulthood or life yet. I would say 21 and up should start them on the right track, getting to know their own neighborhoods first.
  • asking for a friend (18/04/2026, 10:20) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why, you scared he might win? "A little child shall lead them" from what going on right now, what we really have to lose?
  • LOL (18/04/2026, 10:27) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
    An 18 year old can’t run for office but we voted people above 35 who acting and governing like 6 year old. Makes sense, carry on.
  • Mint Cake (18/04/2026, 13:30) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    I can get married, I can legally drink alcohol. I can vote, I can do a lot of things legally at 18, but this? Wow
    • jerome (18/04/2026, 15:25) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ Mint Cake. Married at 18 is just crazy. You haven't even traveled or done all of the mature things that you need to put in place to run a household. Can you pay rent or hold down a good-paying job, pay electricity, water, grocery shopping, pay a car note, and go to college? Drinking alcohol at such a young age will surely start rotting your liver. Don't be in such a rush to grow up. Being young, single, and living at home is fun.
      • Mint Cake (19/04/2026, 07:36) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
        @jerome..please do not come at me.. I spoke of what the LEGAL laws of the virgin islands allow IT'S CITIZENS ET AL TO DO at the age of 18...Seize the time. You have options.
  • Really (18/04/2026, 15:41) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why will anyone vote for a 16 /21 years old ,
    whose brain haven't developed ???

    CRAZY
  • tola (18/04/2026, 15:57) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    That mean you all should make it mandatory that 21 and over should vote...
  • Rosemary’s baby (18/04/2026, 16:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good. Many of of youths have immature mindsets and much more of them can barely grasp the English language and construct coherent sentences.

    They can hardly articulate what they are thinking much less manage a ministry or travel to represent the territory abroad in any meaningful way. Let them get to know themselves first before deciding to enter politics especially in there here parts.
  • pat (18/04/2026, 16:52) Like (0) Dislike (11) Reply
    free the youths free the youths
  • Hee haw (18/04/2026, 17:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Penn is a cronie donkey who stays fighting down bvi landers and currently serves a Yt man being pushed around.
  • Really? (18/04/2026, 17:33) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree. I teach 18yo. People have NO idea how undeveloped their brains REALLY are. And dont talk about their emotions. If the men and women who run the country now brains are fully developed and they do the sh$! they do, imagine how much more volatile the situation would be with 18yos. 18 yos think its ok to drive wo a license, and commit armed robbery. Let them wait, and focus on a college education.
  • Ayo jokey (19/04/2026, 00:39) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This whole argument is stupid. If anything the age should be higher the average person frontal lobe doesn’t fully develop until the age 25 or sometime older. Anyone that thinks otherwise should needs their voting rights snatched smh
  • make 21 the legal age (20/04/2026, 10:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The same should apply to those who are attaining a driver's license at the age of 18 and a scooter license at the age of 16, and also those little pissy-tale 16-year-olds who can't wash themselves properly who are having sex.
  • musa (20/04/2026, 11:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    age must be supported by education just me view
  • Anonymous (22/04/2026, 12:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now it needs to have an age limit for persons to old, from you hit 65 thats it for you
  • I agree (23/04/2026, 12:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    No change! These young people solve all their problems by taking out the competition, LITTTERALY! We cant have this type of lawlessness while we trying to put the country back together.


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