Here is a question: who has the right to vote? Let's start with what voting is. Voting is how people get a say. They get a say in what happens in their city, state or country. The right to vote has its own name. It is called suffrage. Then we will look at some dates. Let's go.

Now for some words that go with voting. Let's take them one at a time. The word democracy means rule by the people. It comes from Greek words. In government, people choose representatives. They make decisions for the people. People also vote for candidates. The candidates hold local, state and national positions.

Next, how does a person get to vote? Let's see how it works. In almost every state, people register to vote first. North Dakota does not require it. After they register, they can vote. They can vote in national, state and local elections. That is true as of February 2026. Also as of February 2026, a citizen who is 18 or older can vote in the United States.

Now for some history. Let's start with the first of three amendments. The 15th Amendment was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869. It was ratified on February 3, 1870. It says the right of citizens to vote cannot be denied. Race, color, or previous condition of servitude cannot be the reason. The 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. Let's look at what it says.

Here is the next amendment. The 19th Amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919. It was ratified on August 18, 1920. It says the right of citizens to vote cannot be denied. Sex cannot be the reason. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote across the United States. Let's look at one more. It is about age.

Age has a story, too. Before the 26th Amendment, the voting age in most states was 21. Congress passed the 26th Amendment on March 23, 1971. It was ratified on July 1, 1971. It says citizens who are 18 or older cannot be kept from voting. Age cannot be the reason. That is the third amendment in this story.

Now let's see how people vote. On Election Day, many people go to a polling place to vote. As of November 2026, many states let people vote in person before Election Day. Some people vote by mail. Some drop off a ballot. They do it before Election Day. There is one more thing to know. Many votes are decided by a simple majority.

Words to know

• suffrage: right to vote
• democracy: rule by people
• representatives: chosen decision makers
• amendment: added rule
• ratified: made official

The short version

Voting is how people get a say in what happens in their city, state or country. In the United States, a citizen who is 18 or older can vote, as of February 2026. The 26th Amendment, ratified on July 1, 1971, says citizens who are 18 or older cannot be kept from voting because of age.

Quick facts

• The right to vote is called suffrage.
• The 15th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870.
• The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920.
• Before the 26th Amendment, the voting age in most states was 21.