Question

How did the 26th amendment address the concerns of American youth during the Vietnam war

Answer 1

During the Vietnam War, many young men in the United States were being drafted into the military to fight in the war. The minimum age for men to join the armed forces was 18 years old, but the voting age was 21.

And so, a debate that was started after World War II, intensified during the Vietnam War as more young men were being forced to fight in a war they didn't agree with, yet denied the right to vote to make change in their country.

Today, the 26th Amendment prohibits the state and/or federal government to deny the right to vote in elections due to age, for anyone over 18. All citizens over 18 can vote in federal and state elections without the fear of being barred from the poll booths.

Answer 2

The amendment lowered the voting age, so that young people who were old enough to be drafted into military service were considered also old enough to vote.

Context/details:

Protests against the Vietnam War were active on college campuses across the country in the 1960s.  Part of those protests were the demands of young people chanting, "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote."  Since 18 was old enough to be drafted to fight in the war, young people argued for their right to vote as full citizens.

The 26th Amendment was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971.  It was ratified by the states faster than any other amendment, achieving ratification by July 1, 1971.

The 26th Amendment is worded as follows:  

• Section 1. 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.
• Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.