Article 2, Section 1, Paragraphs 4-5
The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
Electors Are Mature Citizens
Maturity is a key to good decision making. The problem of age is that it does not indicate maturity, just how long a person has been alive. It should be noted that in certain times in our American history, the age of 35 was considered very old, because so many died at this age or soon after due to harsh conditions and diseases.
The desire was that the Biblical “elders” would do this voting. Those who had proven themselves wise in making important decisions were to be chosen by the State legislators and then cast a vote based on wisdom and experience.
Finding the low end of this age group is difficult. Normally someone in their mid thirties would have a house and young family. They would have settled down and now realize the value of things. They would be able to act soberly.
The Priests were not to take on the serious aspects of the priesthood until they were 30 years old. By the age of 50, they were to step aside and let others take the more difficult and strenuous tasks. This would allow the priest to have established his family and learned the application of God’s Word. This would indicate that an elder in our day and age would be someone over the age of 50. It is best to leave the definition of elder open to include only those of great respect and honor in each community.
Exodus 19:7, "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him."
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