What was the age to vote before the 26th Amendment?

Ratified in July 1971, the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution lowered the voting age of U.S. citizens from 21 to 18 years old.

Did the 26th Amendment lower the voting age?

Our Constitution recognizes that, as a Nation, we are constantly learning. Our Founders built that recognition into its original design, providing a mechanism to amend our Constitution as our Nation evolved. On July 1, 1971, our Nation ratified the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, lowering the voting age to 18.

What caused the ratification of the 26th Amendment which lowered the voting age to 18?

Responding to arguments that those old enough to be drafted for military service, should be able to exercise the right to vote, Congress lowered the voting age as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1970. Endorsed by Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma, the amendment passed the House by a vote of 401 to 19, on March 23, 1971.

Why was the voting age reduced from 21 to 18?

The present-day youth are literate and enlightened and the lowering of the voting age would provide to the unrepresented youth of the country an opportunity to give vent to their feelings and help them become a part of the political process. It is, therefore, proposed to reduce the voting age from 21 years to 18 years.

When was voting age changed from 21 to 18?

The proposed 26th Amendment passed the House and Senate in the spring of 1971 and was ratified by the states on July 1, 1971.

What was the original voting age in the US?

It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and declared 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.” See the original document at the National Archives site.

Why did they lower the voting age?

The drive to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 grew across the country during the 1960s, driven in part by the military draft held during the Vietnam War. A common slogan of proponents of lowering the voting age was “old enough to fight, old enough to vote”.

What was the purpose of the 26th Amendment?

Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution Passed by Congress March 23, 1971, and ratified July 1, 1971, the 26th amendment granted the right to vote to American citizens aged eighteen or older.

When was voting age lowered to 18?

Why is the 21st Amendment unique?

The amendment is unique in two ways: (a) it is the only amendment that has specifically repealed another amendment; and (b) it is the only amendment that has used the auxiliary method of ratification via state conventions rather than the legislatures of the states.

When did the vote change from 21 to 18?

What does the 26th Amendment mean today?

The 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18, has roots in WWII history. “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 any state on account of age.”

How long did it take to ratify the 26th Amendment?

In just over two months–the shortest period of time for any amendment in U.S. history–the necessary three-fourths of state legislatures (or 38 states) ratified the 26th Amendment. It officially went into effect on July 1, 1971, though President Nixon signed it into law on July 5, 1971.

Who signed the 26th Amendment in 1971?

President Richard Nixon in July 1971 signs the Constitution’s newest amendment, which guarantees 18-year-olds the right to vote in all elections. Robert Kunzig, head of the General Services Administration, waits to officially certify the ratification of the 26th amendment.

Which presidents supported the 26th Amendment?

Presidential & Congression Support for the 26th Amendment. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the U.S. armed forces to victory in Europe in 1945, later became the first president to publicly voice his support for a constitutional amendment lowering the minimum voting age.