Civil Service Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

To be eligible to vote in the United States, a person must be at least 18 years old. This requirement is established by the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified in 1971 and explicitly states that citizens who are 18 years of age or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on age. The significance of this age requirement is to ensure that individuals who have reached adulthood, and therefore are considered capable of participating in civic duties, have the opportunity to express their opinions through voting.

Being 16 years or older does not qualify someone to vote since they are still considered minors and not legally able to enter into contracts or make significant decisions. Natural-born citizenship is also not a requirement; naturalized citizens can vote as long as they meet the age criteria. Having a job is irrelevant to voting eligibility; voting rights are granted based on age and citizenship, not employment status. Thus, the age requirement is a fundamental aspect of voting eligibility in the United States, and being at least 18 years old is the key condition that each voter must satisfy.