US election voting eligibility: A comprehensive guide to age, residency and citizenship for voting in US

US elections 2024: The 2024 elections in the United States are scheduled to be held on November 5 (Tuesday), and the country is bracing up for one of the closest contests in its history between candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

The winner of this election will serve four years in the White House starting from their inauguration on 20 Jan 2025.

Approximately 244 million people are eligible to vote in the upcoming US presidential election next month. But how does the US vote? Here is a comprehensive guide on several eligibility requirements for the US presidential elections:

US elections 2024: Eligibility to vote in US

Voting in the US presidential elections is a fundamental right for all American citizens, but there are some specific eligibility criteria on age, citizenship and residency requirements:

To vote in a US presidential election, you must be at least 18 years old on or before the election day. Some states allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 by the general election.

You must be a US citizen to vote in all federal elections, including the presidential election. This includes:

- Natural-born citizens: born in the US or born abroad to US citizen parents

- Naturalized citizens: those who became US citizens through the naturalization process

However, non-citizens, including permanent residents (green card holders), visa holders, or undocumented immigrants, are not eligible to vote in US presidential elections.

To vote, you must be a resident of the state where you're registered to vote. Each state sets its own rules for how long you must have lived in the state before you can vote. Some common rules include:

- A specific minimum period of residency (varies from 10 to 30 days before election day in most states)

- You must vote in the jurisdiction (city, county, precinct) where you reside.

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- If you move to a new state, you will likely need to register to vote in that state and meet its residency requirements.

In most states, you must register to vote before election day. Some states allow same-day voter registration, while others have cut-off dates before the election.

Some states automatically register citizens when they interact with state agencies (like getting a driver's licence).

Mental Competence: In some states, individuals who are declared mentally incompetent by a court are not eligible to vote.

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Felony Convictions: Voting rights for convicted felons vary by state. Some states permanently bar felons from voting, while others restore voting rights after the sentence, parole, or probation completion.

If you are a US citizen living abroad or unable to vote in person on a particular day of election (due to illness, disability, military service, etc.), you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

Similarly, many states offer early voting options to allow voters to cast their ballots before election day.

(With inputs from agencies)