How old must a person be to vote in U.S. elections?

In the United States, the legal voting age is 18 years old. This requirement is established by the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1971. The amendment specifically states that citizens who are 18 years or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on age, thereby ensuring that young adults have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

The significance of this age limit stems from the recognition that individuals who are 18 years old are generally considered to be responsible enough to make informed decisions about their governance and participate in civic duties. Prior to this amendment, various states had set different minimum voting ages, but the 26th Amendment unified the voting age across the nation, emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in democracy.

Other age options, such as 16 or 21 years old, do not reflect current standards since the movement towards lowering the voting age was driven by a desire to empower younger citizens, while the age of 21 was historically the minimum for voting in many states prior to the 1970s. There's also no viable proposal for a no minimum age requirement, as that would undermine the principles of responsible citizenship and the integrity of the voting process.