What is the 26th Amendment

• Steven Topazio wrote this November 18, 2024 at 3:33 pm

The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in all federal, state, and local elections. This amendment was largely driven by arguments during the Vietnam War, where young men were being drafted to serve in the military but could not vote.

The amendment ensures that citizens who are 18 years old or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on their age, expanding voting rights to millions of younger Americans.