How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

To vote for President in the United States, citizens must be at least eighteen years old. This age requirement is established by the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1971, which states that the right of citizens who are eighteen years of age or older to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age. The rationale behind setting the voting age at eighteen reflects the belief that individuals at this age are typically mature enough to participate in civic duties, including making informed decisions about their leaders and policies.

The other age options provided do not align with federal law. Sixteen, nineteen, and twenty-one are all ineligible ages for voting in presidential elections, as sixteen-year-olds are not legally considered adults and thus cannot make such significant decisions, while nineteen and twenty-one would deny the rights of those who have reached the age of eighteen.