Who is eligible to vote in federal elections?

The eligibility to vote in federal elections in the United States is determined by the requirement that individuals must be citizens who are at least 18 years old. This age requirement is established by the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified in 1971. The amendment was a significant change in voting rights, aimed at lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 to ensure that younger citizens could have a voice in the political process, especially during the time of the Vietnam War when many young people were being drafted for military service.

Other options present various groups that are not eligible to vote. For example, while individuals may be 16 years old, they do not meet the age requirement stipulated by the Constitution. Additionally, voting is not restricted solely to members of a political party; unaffiliated voters can also participate in federal elections, depending on state laws regarding primaries. Permanent residents, who are not U.S. citizens, do not have voting rights in federal elections, as voting is reserved for U.S. citizens only. These factors highlight why the option indicating citizens who are at least 18 years old is the correct choice in determining who can vote in federal elections.