The 26th Amendment: Voting Age to 18

The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years. This change reflected the belief that if young people were old enough to fight in wars, they should also have the right to vote. The amendment was passed quickly, showing the importance of youth participation in democracy, and it expanded the electorate by allowing millions of new voters to have a say in government.