To be elected as a U.S. Representative, there are several key requirements that must be met:
Age and Citizenship Requirements
Candidates must be at least 25 years old
They must have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years
Residency Requirement
Representatives must be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of the election
Voter Qualifications
The U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to set voter qualifications for congressional elections, with the express requirement that a state can prescribe no qualifications other than those stipulated for voters of the most numerous branch of the state legislature
State discretion in setting voter qualifications is limited by constitutional amendments and judicial decisions
While the Constitution establishes these minimal requirements, neither Congress nor the states can add to the qualifications for membership in the House of Representatives.