Legal members of the united states, or its citizens, have the right to participate in government. one way to become involved is by registering to vote in elections. people who can prove eligibility to vote are placed on an official list. to have permission to be a part of the process of choosing one’s government leaders, a person must show he or she is a legal adult (18 years old), a citizen of the united states (by birth or by naturalization), and a resident living permanently in the state in which he or she wishes to vote.