How old must citizens be to vote for President in the United States?

In the United States, citizens must be eighteen years old to vote for President, which aligns with the requirements set by the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1971. This Amendment lowered the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen, reflecting a recognition of the rights of younger citizens to participate in the electoral process.

Voting is a fundamental civic duty, and the age of eighteen represents a significant developmental milestone where individuals are usually considered legally responsible for themselves and able to engage in informed decision-making. This alignment with the age of majority allows young adults to have a voice in choosing their leaders and shaping national policies.

Other age options, such as sixteen, twenty-one, or twenty-five, do not reflect the legal requirements established in U.S. law. Sixteen is too young and has not been adopted in any state for federal elections. Voting at twenty-one was the previous standard before the amendment, and twenty-five does not correspond to any significant voting legislation in the U.S.