Twenty-Sixth Amendment - Voting Age
Original Text
Section 1. 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. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
In Plain Language
Citizens 18 and older can't be denied the right to vote based on age. This lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. States ratified the amendment in just 100 days—the fastest ratification of any constitutional amendment.
Historical Significance
The voting age dropped from 21 to 18 on July 1, 1971. Congress passed it on March 23, 1971. States ratified it in 100 days — the fastest in history. The draft sent 18-year-olds to Vietnam, but they couldn't vote.
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Historical Context
During the Vietnam War, the draft pulled 18-year-olds into combat while most states barred anyone under 21 from voting. "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" became the rallying cry. In 1970, Congress lowered the voting age by statute, but the Supreme Court in Oregon v. Mitchell (1970) ruled 5-4 that Congress could set the age only for federal elections—states retained control over their own races. That created chaos: states needed two separate voter registration systems for different elections.
Congress proposed the Twenty-Sixth Amendment on March 23, 1971; states ratified it on July 1, 1971—in exactly 100 days, the fastest ratification in constitutional history. An estimated 11 million new voters became eligible immediately.
How This Shows Up Today
Youth turnout hit 47% in 2024, approaching the 50% historic high of 2020. But sharp gaps remain: 58% of young white women voted versus an estimated 25% of young Black men. States with same-day registration and pre-registration for 16-year-olds—Minnesota, Michigan, Maine—consistently lead in youth participation. Several Maryland cities, including Takoma Park, Hyattsville, and Greenbelt, let 16-year-olds vote in local elections. Debate continues over lowering the federal voting age further: supporters note 16-year-olds can drive, work, and pay taxes; opponents question whether civic development and brain maturity support the change.
Youth voter registration efforts
Debates over lowering to 16
College student voting residence disputes
Discussion Questions4
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