CONCORD, N.H. — The mandate in New Hampshire requiring judges to step down at age 70 will stay in effect after voters decisively turned down a proposal to extend the retirement age to 75.

On Tuesday, residents cast their votes on a constitutional amendment regarding the age restriction that has been in place since 1792. The results indicated that approximately 65% of voters supported the change, falling short of the required two-thirds majority for a successful amendment.

Those in the New Hampshire legislature who advocated for placing the amendment on the ballot argued that the retirement age of 70 was established in a different era, when life expectancies were significantly lower. They underscored the value of experience in the judicial system. On the other hand, opponents of the measure emphasized the need for introducing new perspectives within the judiciary.

Across the United States, mandatory retirement ages for judges differ greatly. For instance, Maine does not impose any upper age limit for judges, Massachusetts has a retirement age of 70, and Vermont permits judges to serve until they are 90.