Question

What was one important factor that helped pass the 26th amendment in 1971 which lowered the voting age to 18

Answer 1

The Vietnam War. It was a long debate over lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, which began during World War II and only intensified during the Vietnam War when young men who were practically being heavily obligated and sometimes forced/drafted to fight for their country were being denied the right to vote. “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” became a common slogan for a youth voting rights movement, and in 1943 Georgia became the first state to lower its voting age in state and local elections from 21 to 18.

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Answer 2

The important factor that contributed to pass the 26th amendment in 1971 which lowered the voting age to 18 was the Vietnam War. Young people were practically coerced and occasionally forced to go to the battle for their country during World War II and many more increased during the Vietnam War were denied the right to vote, therefore, they reduced the age of voters from 21 to 18.

EXPLANATION:  

The United States Constitution’s Twenty-Sixth Amendment (Amendment XXVI) forbids the states and federal governments from utilizing age as an excuse to deny the right to elect U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old. It was planned by Congress on March 23, 1971, and approved on July 1, 1971, the fastest ratification of the amendment in history.

This amendment was crucial for the Student Movement since they stated that if they were mature enough to be recruited into the war they fought, then they must be old enough to vote and have a right to express their voice in their government.

Several public officials had endorsed the decline in electoral age during the mid-20th century, yet they were incapable to obtain the legislative momentum needed to ratify constitutional amendments. The drive to reduce the age of voters from 21 to 18 grew in the country in the 1960s, largely driven by military designs held during the Vietnam War, as well as movements of student activists. The draft required young people among the ages of 18 and 21 years into the armed forces, especially the U.S. Army, to support or serve military combat operations in Vietnam.  

Congress reduced the age of the national vote to 18 in the 1970 bill that extended the Voting Rights Act, but the Supreme Court was later held in the Oregon v. Mitchell noted that Congress could not reduce the age of voting for state and local elections. Shortly after the decision, Congress proposed and the states authorized the Twentieth Amendment, which constitutionally defends voting rights for individuals aged between 18 and 21 years.

LEARN MORE:  

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

• How did the 26 amendment change voting? brainly.com/question/10048731

• What was the purpose of the 26 amendment? brainly.com/question/11786317

KEYWORDS : 26th Amendment, Vietnam War, factor which lowered the voting age to 18  

Subject  : History

Class  : 10-12

Sub-Chapter : Voting History in U.S.