Omar Bennett
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Amendment XXVI, was passed on July 1, 1971, and lowered the voting age for all Americans to eighteen years, having previously been twenty-one years. The amendment addressed a domestic controversy that emerged amid the Cold War, with the Vietnam War at the center of debates. The drive to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 was driven by the military draft, which conscripted young men between the ages of 18 and 21 to serve in the Vietnam War, leading to the sentiment that if one was old enough to fight, [they were] old enough to vote.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of proposal | March 10, 1971 |
| Date passed by Congress | March 23, 1971 |
| Date ratified | July 1, 1971 |
| Date signed into law | July 5, 1971 |
| Voting age before the amendment | 21 |
| Voting age after the amendment | 18 |
| Voting age after the amendment (in numbers) | 18 years or older |
| Voting age after the amendment (in words) | Eighteen years or older |
| Voting age reduction | 3 years |
| Number of states that refused to pass measures to lower their minimum voting ages | 17 |
| Number of states that ratified the amendment | 38 |
| Number of months taken to ratify the amendment | 2 |
| Number of days taken to ratify the amendment | 61 |
| Amendment number | 26 |
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What You'll Learn
- The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
- The right to vote for 18-year-olds was supported by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
- The amendment was passed by Congress and ratified by the states in 1971
- The Supreme Court ruled that Congress could only set the minimum voting age in federal elections
- The 26th Amendment faced legal challenges and criticism after its ratification
The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. It was passed by Congress and ratified by the states in 1971, giving voting rights to millions of young Americans. The road to achieving this amendment was long and fraught with debate and legal challenges.
The discussion around lowering the voting age began during World War II when President Franklin D. Roosevelt lowered the minimum age for the military draft to 18. This meant that young men were being conscripted to fight for their country without having the right to vote. This discrepancy led to the powerful slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote", which became a rallying cry for a youth voting rights movement.
The debate intensified during the Vietnam War, with young men facing conscription and lacking the right to vote once again. In the late 1960s, youth voting rights activists held marches and demonstrations, drawing attention to the hypocrisy of drafting citizens who did not have political authority over the conflict. In 1968, Johnson proposed an immediate national grant of the right to vote to 18-year-olds, and in 1969, 60 resolutions were introduced in Congress to lower the voting age.
Despite the growing support for lowering the voting age, there was also significant opposition. Some questioned the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds, arguing that they lacked the good judgment essential to good citizenship. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court case of Oregon v. Mitchell ruled that Congress could regulate the voting age for federal elections but not for state and local elections. This decision highlighted that amending the Constitution was necessary to lower the voting age uniformly across the nation.
In March 1971, the U.S. Senate and House voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposed 26th Amendment, which was then sent to the states for ratification. In just over two months, the necessary three-fourths of state legislatures (38 states) ratified the amendment. It officially went into effect on July 1, 1971, and President Nixon signed it into law on July 5, 1971.
The 26th Amendment was a significant milestone in expanding voting rights in the United States, ensuring that young Americans aged 18 and older could participate in federal elections and have their voices heard in shaping the country's future.
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The right to vote for 18-year-olds was supported by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years. The Amendment was passed by Congress and ratified by the states in 1971, and it officially went into effect on July 1 of that year. The right to vote for 18-year-olds was supported by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who became the first president to publicly voice his support for lowering the minimum voting age.
In his 1954 State of the Union address, President Eisenhower declared:
> "For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in times of peril, been summoned to fight for America. They should participate in the political process that produces this fateful summons."
The movement to lower the voting age gained widespread public support in the mid-1960s due to the Vietnam War. Many young men who were ineligible to vote were conscripted to fight in the war, thus lacking any means to influence the people sending them off to risk their lives. This led to protests and demonstrations by youth voting rights activists, who marched with signs and chants declaring, "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote."
The push for lowering the voting age also had roots in World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt lowered the military draft age to 18 while the minimum voting age remained at 21. This discrepancy spurred a nationwide youth voting rights movement, and in 1943, Georgia became the first state to lower the voting age for state and local elections to 18, with Kentucky following suit in 1955.
Despite President Eisenhower's support and the growing movement, proposals for a Constitutional amendment setting a standardized national voting age faced opposition from the states. It wasn't until 1970 that Congress passed a bill extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which included a provision lowering the minimum voting age to 18 in all federal, state, and local elections. The 26th Amendment thus ensured that citizens aged 18 and older had the right to vote in all elections, ending age-related voting restrictions.
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The amendment was passed by Congress and ratified by the states in 1971
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress and ratified by the states in 1971. It lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 years. The amendment was proposed and passed by both chambers of Congress in March 1971, with the U.S. Senate voting unanimously in favour of the amendment, followed by an overwhelming House vote in favour. The 26th Amendment then went to the states for ratification. In just over two months, the shortest period of time for any amendment in U.S. history, the necessary three-fourths of state legislatures (38 states) ratified the amendment. It officially went into effect on 1 July 1971, although President Nixon signed it into law on 5 July 1971.
The 26th Amendment changed a portion of the 14th Amendment, which had established protections for the right to vote for male citizens of the United States who were 21 years of age or older. The right of citizens of the United States who are 18 years of age or older to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. The 26th Amendment addressed one of the larger domestic controversies that had emerged amid the Cold War.
The debate over lowering the voting age began during World War II and intensified during the Vietnam War, when young men who were conscripted to fight for their country were simultaneously denied the right to vote. This discrepancy led to the slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote", which became a rallying cry for a youth voting rights movement. In 1943 and 1955, the Georgia and Kentucky legislatures approved measures to lower the voting age to 18. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to publicly support prohibiting age-based denials of suffrage for those 18 and older. In 1968, Senator Birch Bayh's subcommittee on constitutional amendments began hearings on extending voting rights to 18-year-olds.
In 1970, Congress passed a bill extending and amending the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which included a provision to lower the voting age. However, in the Supreme Court case of Oregon v. Mitchell, it was ruled that Congress only had the power to set the minimum voting age in federal elections, not in state or local elections. This meant that the only way to lower the voting age to 18 at the federal level was to amend the Constitution. Despite opposition from some who questioned the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds, there was increasing support for a Constitutional amendment that would set a uniform national voting age.
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The Supreme Court ruled that Congress could only set the minimum voting age in federal elections
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18 years. The Amendment was passed by Congress and ratified by the states in 1971, amid increasing support for a standardised national voting age. The Amendment was proposed following the U.S. Supreme Court case Oregon v. Mitchell, which ruled that Congress could set the minimum voting age in federal elections, but not in state and local elections.
The debate over lowering the voting age began during World War II and intensified during the Vietnam War, when young men were being conscripted to fight for their country without the right to vote. In 1942, Congress lowered the minimum age for the military draft to 18, and in 1943, Georgia became the first state to lower the voting age to 18, although this was only for white youth due to Jim Crow laws. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to publicly support a constitutional amendment lowering the voting age.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon added a provision to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, lowering the voting age to 18 in federal, state, and local elections. This was challenged in the Supreme Court case of Oregon v. Mitchell, which ruled that Congress could not lower the voting age for state and local elections. The Supreme Court's decision meant that individual states would have to decide to lower their voting age for state elections.
The 26th Amendment standardised the minimum voting age across the nation, ensuring that citizens aged 18 and above could vote in both federal and state elections. The Amendment changed a portion of the 14th Amendment, which had established protections for the right to vote for male citizens aged 21 and above.
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The 26th Amendment faced legal challenges and criticism after its ratification
The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18 years, expanding the right to vote to millions of young Americans. This amendment was passed in response to the Vietnam War, which saw young people drafted to fight but denied the right to vote.
Despite its positive impact, the 26th Amendment has faced legal challenges and criticism. Some of these challenges include:
Legal challenges
The 26th Amendment has faced several legal challenges and interpretations since its ratification. For example, in the Supreme Court case of Oregon v. Mitchell, it was determined that Congress has the authority to lower the voting age for federal elections but not for state elections. This led to a proposed amendment to lower the voting age for all levels of government, which was passed by Congress in March 1971 and ratified as the 26th Amendment.
Courts have also confirmed that the 26th Amendment does not provide protections outside of voting, rejecting arguments that it requires states to lower the age for jury service, holding public office, or drinking. Voter identification laws have also been challenged under the 26th Amendment, with some laws making it difficult for college students to vote, such as requiring voters to vote in person or imposing strict residency requirements.
Criticism
The 26th Amendment has also faced criticism from those who question the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds. Some argue that young people may not be informed or mature enough to make responsible decisions at the ballot box and are too easily swayed by emotions. There is some evidence to support these concerns, as younger voters may be less informed and more influenced by social media and other unreliable sources. However, there is also evidence that young people are capable of making informed decisions and are often more engaged and idealistic about social justice issues.
Another criticism of the amendment is the issue of voter suppression, with many states enacting laws that make it harder for young people to vote, such as voter ID laws, polling place closures, and restrictive registration requirements. Despite these challenges, the 26th Amendment remains a vital part of the US Constitution, recognizing the right of young people to participate in the political process.
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Frequently asked questions
The 26th Amendment is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18.
The 26th Amendment extended the right to vote to all Americans aged 18 and older. It was passed and ratified in 1971 and went into effect on July 1, 1971.
The process of passing the 26th Amendment began with the U.S. Senate and House voting unanimously in favor of the proposed amendment. Within two months, three-quarters of state legislatures (38 states) ratified the amendment. It was then signed into law by President Richard Nixon on July 5, 1971.
The main argument in favour of the 26th Amendment was that if citizens were old enough to serve in the military at 18, they should also have the right to vote. This argument gained traction during World War II and the Vietnam War, when young men were being conscripted to fight without having a say in the political process.
Opponents of the 26th Amendment questioned the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds, arguing that they lacked the good judgment essential for citizenship. Some also pointed out that the period of adolescence had lengthened, and that in the past, people had more responsibilities at younger ages.
