Omar Bennett
The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was passed on July 1, 1971, guarantees 18-year-olds the right to vote in all elections. The amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21, was driven by the military draft during the Vietnam War, which conscripted young men between the ages of 18 and 21 to serve in the armed forces. This discrepancy between the legal age to fight for one's country and the legal age to have a say in the government's decision to wage that war led to the youth voting rights movement and the slogan old enough to fight, old enough to vote.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Amendment | Twenty-sixth Amendment |
| Date passed by Congress | March 23, 1971 |
| Date ratified | July 1, 1971 |
| Voting age before the Amendment | 21 |
| Voting age after the Amendment | 18 |
| Voting age lowered for | All levels of government |
| States that refused to lower the voting age | 17 |
| States that had a minimum voting age below 21 before the Amendment | Georgia, Kentucky, Alaska, Hawaii |
| State that first lowered the voting age to 18 | Georgia |
| Year the state of Georgia lowered the voting age to 18 | 1943 |
| States that ratified the Amendment | 38 |
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What You'll Learn
The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old. The Amendment states: "The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen 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." This change was the result of a long campaign by youth activists and their allies, who argued that if young people were old enough to fight and die for their country, they should also have the right to vote.
The drive to lower the voting age gained momentum during the Vietnam War, when young men between the ages of 18 and 21 were being conscripted to serve in the military but did not have the legal right to vote. This discrepancy led to the emergence of a youth rights movement, with the slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote". The increasing number of young people graduating from high school, going to college, and engaging in political and social activism also contributed to the growing support for lowering the voting age.
Despite facing opposition from some who questioned the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds, the 26th Amendment passed faster than any other constitutional amendment. It was proposed and passed by both chambers of Congress in March 1971 and quickly ratified by the requisite three-quarters of state legislatures (38 states) in just over two months. This rapid progress can be attributed to the recognition that maintaining separate voting rolls and elections for federal and state contests would be confusing and costly.
The 26th Amendment has had a significant impact on youth voter turnout in the United States. In recent years, the country has experienced unprecedented levels of youth participation in elections, with young people turning out to vote in higher numbers than ever before. This increase in youth activism and engagement in the political process can be traced back to the passage of the 26th Amendment, which empowered young citizens to have a say in the democratic processes that shape their future.
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The Amendment was ratified on July 1, 1971
The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the voting age to 18, was ratified on July 1, 1971. This amendment was the culmination of a decades-long movement to extend voting rights to young people. The slogan of the movement was "old enough to fight, old enough to vote", reflecting the fact that young men were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War at the age of 18, but were not allowed to vote until the age of 21.
The push to lower the voting age gained momentum in the 1960s, driven by the youth activism of the time, including the civil rights movement and opposition to the Vietnam War. In 1970, Senator Ted Kennedy proposed amending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to lower the voting age nationally. On June 22, 1970, President Richard Nixon signed an extension of the Voting Rights Act that required the voting age to be 18 in all federal, state, and local elections.
However, the Supreme Court later ruled in Oregon v. Mitchell that Congress could not lower the voting age for state and local elections. This created confusion and would have resulted in separate voting rolls and elections for federal and state contests. To address this, Congress proposed the 26th Amendment, which was ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures (38 states) in just over two months.
The 26th Amendment states that "the right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen 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." This amendment changed a portion of the 14th Amendment, which had established protections for the right to vote for citizens who were "twenty-one years of age."
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The slogan old enough to fight, old enough to vote was used by proponents
The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years. This amendment was passed during a time of increasing public opposition to the Vietnam War and a burgeoning youth counterculture, with young Americans at the forefront of these movements. The slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote" was used by proponents of lowering the voting age, who argued that if citizens were old enough to serve their country in the military, they should be able to exercise their right to vote.
The drive to lower the voting age gained momentum during the 1960s, driven in part by the military draft for the Vietnam War. Young men between the ages of 18 and 21 were being conscripted into the United States Armed Forces and sent to fight in Vietnam, yet they did not have the legal right to vote until they turned 21. This discrepancy led to the emergence of a youth rights movement, with young people advocating for their right to have a say in the political decisions that affected their lives.
The slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote" highlighted the hypocrisy of expecting young men to risk their lives for their country without giving them a voice in the political process. It was first used during World War II, when the minimum draft age was lowered to 18 to meet the demand for troops. The slogan reemerged during the Vietnam War era, becoming a rallying cry for the youth suffrage movement.
The 26th Amendment addressed this discrepancy by ensuring that the right to vote could not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age for citizens who were 18 years or older. The amendment passed quickly, reflecting the urgency and widespread support for lowering the voting age. It faced legal challenges, with some states refusing to pass measures to lower their minimum voting ages, but it ultimately prevailed and continues to protect the voting rights of young Americans.
The impact of the 26th Amendment was significant, with millions of young Americans exercising their newfound right to vote in the 1972 presidential election. The amendment tacitly recognized the importance of young citizens in the political process and encouraged their engagement with contemporary political issues. While there is still work to be done to address legal and structural barriers to voting, the 26th Amendment remains a critical tool in fighting voter suppression and ensuring equal voting rights for all Americans.
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The Amendment faced legal challenges in the decades since its ratification
The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the voting age for all Americans from 21 to 18 years. This amendment has faced several legal challenges since its ratification, with arguments falling into a few main categories.
One key area of contention has been the representation of out-of-town college students at the polls. Residency requirements in certain states have made it challenging for these students to vote, as they may be required to vote using their home address or vote in person, which is not always feasible during the school semester. This has led to legal debates about the interpretation of the 26th Amendment and whether it gives Congress the authority to prevent states from enacting restrictions that indirectly make it harder for young citizens to vote.
Another issue that has been raised is whether the 26th Amendment extends to other political institutions, such as serving on a jury or holding public office. Courts have consistently ruled that the amendment does not confer protections outside the realm of voting, and states are not required to lower the age for these other institutions.
The validity of voter identification laws has also been challenged under the 26th Amendment. Some laws, such as those prohibiting the use of college ID cards for voting, have been argued to discriminate against young voters. However, most of these challenges have failed due to a lack of evidence of intentional discrimination against young voters.
Finally, there were legal challenges even before the amendment was passed, with opponents questioning the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds. Despite these challenges, the 26th Amendment addressed a significant controversy during the Cold War era, answering the question of whether citizens should be old enough to fight for their country and have a say in that decision.
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The Amendment was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971
The 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified on July 1, 1971. The Amendment states that:
> The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen 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 Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The drive to lower the voting age to 18 had been building for some time. The earliest calls for this change emerged in the 1940s, with Congressional proposals being endorsed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1942, during World War II, Congress lowered the minimum age for the draft to 18, from 21. This discrepancy between the right to fight for one's country and the right to vote for its leadership sparked a decades-long debate. This debate was reignited during the Vietnam War, with the slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote" becoming a rallying cry.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower called upon Congress to propose a constitutional amendment permitting citizens to vote at 18. In 1968, Johnson proposed an immediate national grant of the right to vote to 18-year-olds. The movement to lower the voting age gained momentum in the 1960s, with increasing numbers of young people graduating high school, going to college, and engaging in political and social activism. In 1970, Senator Ted Kennedy proposed amending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to lower the voting age nationally. On June 22, 1970, President Richard Nixon signed an extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that required the voting age to be 18 in all federal, state, and local elections.
Despite this progress, about 17 states refused to pass measures to lower their minimum voting ages. Opponents questioned the maturity and responsibility of 18-year-olds, arguing that they lacked the good judgment essential to good citizenship. However, the 26th Amendment passed faster than any other constitutional amendment, and it has had a significant impact on youth voter turnout in recent elections.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
A common slogan of proponents of lowering the voting age was "old enough to fight, old enough to vote". This was because young men could be drafted into the military and sent to war at 18 but were not allowed to vote until the age of 21.
The drive to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 grew across the country during the 1960s, driven by the military draft held during the Vietnam War. Protests and lobbying efforts, largely led by activists from the National Education Association and their allies, played a significant role in the movement. On March 23, 1971, the proposed amendment passed through the Senate and the House. It was then sent out to the states for ratification and officially went into effect on July 1, 1971, with an overwhelming majority of states ratifying it.
Despite the Twenty-sixth Amendment's rapid passage, about 17 states refused to implement it and continued to deny 18-year-olds the right to vote.
In recent years, the United States has experienced unprecedented levels of youth voter turnout. In the 2018 midterm elections, youth voter turnout was the highest it had been since the ratification of the amendment. Youth voter turnout in 2020 also reached one of the highest levels in decades, demonstrating the impact of the Twenty-sixth Amendment in empowering young citizens to participate in the democratic process.
