This week, we’re spotlighting Moment #5: The Twenty-Sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. It was a transformative change that empowered millions of young Americans and reshaped the electorate.
What Led to the Twenty-Sixth Amendment?
The movement to lower the voting age gained momentum during the 1960s, a decade defined by social unrest, political activism, and the Vietnam War. As the U.S. military draft pulled thousands of 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds into combat, a question reverberated across the country: If you’re old enough to fight, why aren’t you old enough to vote?
This question became a rallying cry for student activists, civil rights leaders, and lawmakers. While discussions about lowering the voting age had circulated since World War II, the Vietnam War brought the issue to the forefront of national debate.
In 1970, Congress attempted to address the issue by passing a law that lowered the voting age to 18 in federal, state, and local elections. However, the Supreme Court soon ruled in Oregon v. Mitchell that Congress could set the voting age for federal elections but not for state or local contests. This created a confusing, two-tiered system in many states—one that proved unsustainable.
To resolve this inconsistency, Congress quickly proposed a constitutional amendment. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified by the states in record time—just over 100 days later, on July 1, 1971.
What Did the Amendment Do?
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: “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.”
With this amendment, 18- to 20-year-olds across the country gained full voting rights in federal, state, and local elections.
What Happened After?
The immediate effect of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment was the enfranchisement of over 10 million new voters. In the 1972 presidential election—the first after ratification—millions of young Americans voted for the first time.
Since then, young voters have played a pivotal role in shaping election outcomes and public policy. While youth turnout has varied over the decades, younger generations continue to advocate for causes ranging from climate change and education reform to racial justice and gun safety.
Despite being legally empowered, young voters often face unique challenges, including voter suppression, ID laws, and barriers to registration and access. That’s why continued civic education and engagement remain critical.
Why This Moment Matters
The ratification of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment represents one of the fastest and most sweeping expansions of the right to vote in U.S. history. It affirmed a powerful principle: that age alone should not be a barrier to full participation in democracy.
This moment mattered not only because it expanded the electorate, but because it recognized the political power, voice, and stake that young Americans have in shaping the future of the nation.
Up Next: Moment #4
Our countdown continues. Join us next week as we reveal Moment #4 in our OneV’s Top 20 Moments in American Voting History—another powerful turning point in the ongoing story of voting rights in the United States.
Help Us Educate and Empower
At One Nation Every Vote (OneV), we are dedicated to telling nonpartisan stories about American democracy to inspire voter participation and civic engagement. If you want to learn more about the history of voting rights—and help increase voter turnout in elections across all levels of government—please consider supporting our work.
Together, we can ensure every voice is heard and every vote is counted.
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