At what age must citizens be to vote for President?

Citizens must be at least 18 years old to vote for President in the United States. This requirement stems from the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1971. The amendment specifically lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, recognizing that younger citizens could participate in the electoral process and make decisions about their government. This change was largely influenced by arguments that if individuals were old enough to be drafted for military service, they should also be allowed to vote.

Other options are not valid voting ages under current federal law. Age 16 and 17 are considered too young to vote in federal elections, as they do not meet the established minimum age requirement. Likewise, age 21, while it was the minimum voting age before the amendment, has since been changed, making it an outdated choice in the context of voting eligibility for President.