Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

• A. Twenty-Third Amendment
• B. Twenty-Sixth Amendment
• C. Nineteenth Amendment
• D. Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Answer: (B)

This question tests how voting rights were expanded through constitutional amendments. The amendment that lowered the voting age to 18 was ratified in 1971, changing nationwide eligibility from 21 to 18. This shift reflected the belief that if young adults could be called to serve in the military, they should also have a voice in choosing their leaders. The move was tied to a broader push during the era to align voting rights with other civic responsibilities, encapsulated by the idea that those old enough to participate in national service are old enough to vote. The other options refer to different changes: extending the presidential vote to residents of Washington, D.C.; guaranteeing women the right to vote; and addressing presidential succession and disability. In short, the amendment ratified in 1971 lowered the voting age to 18.

This question tests how voting rights were expanded through constitutional amendments. The amendment that lowered the voting age to 18 was ratified in 1971, changing nationwide eligibility from 21 to 18. This shift reflected the belief that if young adults could be called to serve in the military, they should also have a voice in choosing their leaders. The move was tied to a broader push during the era to align voting rights with other civic responsibilities, encapsulated by the idea that those old enough to participate in national service are old enough to vote. The other options refer to different changes: extending the presidential vote to residents of Washington, D.C.; guaranteeing women the right to vote; and addressing presidential succession and disability. In short, the amendment ratified in 1971 lowered the voting age to 18.