The 26th Amendment stated that Americans needed to be 18 years of age or older in order to vote. This was different from previous legislation, which had traditionally established the voting age at 21 years of age. This amendment was enacted as a direct repudiation of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. This came as a result of the Vietnam War. Many men aged between 18-20 were being drafted to fight in the war, even though they were not allowed to vote.
