Who can vote in federal elections?

In federal elections, the right to vote is granted to citizens who are 18 years of age or older. This age requirement is established by the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified in 1971. The amendment was a response to arguments that if individuals were old enough to be drafted for military service, they should also be able to vote. Consequently, citizens who meet this age requirement can participate in elections for federal offices, such as the presidency, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.

The other options present various incorrect qualifications. Citizens aged 16 and older cannot vote in federal elections since they do not meet the minimum age requirement. The assertion that only people with college degrees can vote is not accurate; there are no educational requirements to participate in federal elections, ensuring that voting rights are accessible to all eligible citizens regardless of their educational background. Additionally, stating that all residents of the United States can vote overlooks that only citizens have the legal right to participate in federal elections; non-citizen residents, such as permanent residents or undocumented immigrants, do not have voting rights in these elections.