Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

• A. Twenty-First Amendment (1933)
• B. Twenty-Second Amendment (1951)
• C. Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971)
• D. Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964)

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how the Constitution protects who can vote and at what age. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, directly changes that rule by stating that the right to vote for citizens who are eighteen years of age or older cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. In other words, it fixes 18 as the minimum voting age nationwide for all elections. This change reflected the idea that if someone is old enough to be drafted for military service, they should also have a say in choosing their government. The other amendments mentioned address different issues: the Twenty-First Amendment repealed Prohibition, the Twenty-Second sets term limits for the president, and the Twenty-Fourth Amendment bans poll taxes in federal elections. None of these change the minimum voting age.

The key idea is how the Constitution protects who can vote and at what age. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment, ratified in 1971, directly changes that rule by stating that the right to vote for citizens who are eighteen years of age or older cannot be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. In other words, it fixes 18 as the minimum voting age nationwide for all elections. This change reflected the idea that if someone is old enough to be drafted for military service, they should also have a say in choosing their government.

The other amendments mentioned address different issues: the Twenty-First Amendment repealed Prohibition, the Twenty-Second sets term limits for the president, and the Twenty-Fourth Amendment bans poll taxes in federal elections. None of these change the minimum voting age.