1,397. Who Can Read the Megillah

Hilchos Megillah v’Chanukah 1:2

A person can fulfill his obligation by reading the megillah himself or by listening to another person reading it so long as the one reading it is himself obligated to hear the megillah. Therefore, if the megillah was read by a minor or by a person with insufficient mental faculties, then the one who heard the reading has not fulfilled his obligation.

Hilchos Megillah v’Chanukah 1:3

There is a mitzvah to read the megillah in its entirety, both at night and by day. The whole night is acceptable for the night reading and the whole day is acceptable for the day reading. Before the night reading, three brachos are recited: (1) that God commanded us to read the megillah; (2) that God performed miracles for our ancestors at this season in their day; and (3) that God has given us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion. This last bracha is not recited at the day reading. In places where the practice is to recite a bracha after the reading, the bracha is, “Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who fights our battles and executes judgment for us, Who avenges the wrongs committed against us, Who exacts retribution from our enemies for us, and Who exacts justice on all our foes. Blessed are You, Hashem, the Almighty One Who exacts retribution for His nation Israel from all their oppressors, the God of salvation."