<P> The 26th Amendment ( passed and ratified in 1971 ) set the voting age for federal and state elections at 18 years , but does not prevent states from establishing a lower voting age . Except for the express limitations provided for in Amendments XIV , XV , XIX and XXVI , voter qualifications for House and Senate elections are largely delegated to the States under Article I , Section 2 and Amendment XVII of the United States Constitution , which respectively state that `` The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States , and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature . '' and `` The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State , elected by the people thereof , for six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote . The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures . '' </P>
to vote an election a person should be above the age of
18