{"id":351519,"date":"2020-03-17T09:36:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T14:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/my-voting-guide\/who-can-vote-in-the-u-s.html"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:31:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T18:31:51","slug":"who-can-vote-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/my-voting-guide\/who-can-vote-in-the-u-s.html","title":{"rendered":"Who Can Vote in the U.S.?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Who Can Vote in the U.S?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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To vote in U.S. federal and state elections<\/span>, a person must be a U.S. citizen<\/span>, at least 18 years old<\/span> by election day<\/span>, and meet their state’s residency and registration requirements. These eligibility criteria are established by the U.S. Constitution and state laws. Additional restrictions may apply based on felony convictions<\/span> or mental incapacity, depending on state law.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Voting is a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution. Several constitutional amendments protect this right, including the 15th Amendment (prohibiting denial based on race), the 19th Amendment (extending voting rights<\/span> to women), and the 26th Amendment (lowering the voting age to 18).<\/p>\n

Understanding the intricacies of voting laws can be confusing. Each state has its own rules and requirements that could affect your right to vote<\/u><\/a>\u200b.<\/p>\n

This article answers the following questions related to voting:<\/p>\n