The Draft’s Significance

The path to the 26th Amendment stretches back almost eight decades. While commonly linked to the Vietnam War draft, it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s lowering of the draft age that initially set the movement into motion.

During World War II, as Germany’s aggression mounted in Europe, the American military needed recruits. But they ran into a big problem: millions of the men who applied for the draft were ineligible for health or literacy reasons. Congress moved swiftly, and on November 11, 1942, they passed a measure that lowered the draft age to 18. It was during this period the adage “old enough to fight, old enough to vote” was popularized.

That said, Congressional support for lowering the voting age began in the 1940s. Congressman Representative Jennings Randolph (D-WV) introduced the first of 11 bills during his Congressional tenure in 1942. He later became known as the “Father of the 26th Amendment” because of his enduring support for the measure. In discussing the importance of youth participation in the democratic process, he stated,

“They possess a great social conscience, are perplexed by the injustices in the world, and are anxious to rectify those ills.”

While the idea of lowering the voting age gained some attention, there was little legislative movement on the matter. It was not until Dwight D. Eisenhower became President that the proposal gained traction again.
In his 1954 State of the Union address, President Eisenhower urged Congress to consider lowering the voting age, noting that “[f]or years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America. They should participate in the political process that produces this fateful summons.” He was the first U.S. President to publicly take this position.

Ripe for Ratification

While this supportive statement kept the idea of lowering the voting age alive, the definitive turning point was the onset of the 1960s, and various social, military, and political circumstances.
The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movements, and a burgeoning youth counterculture all made the time ripe for passing an amendment legalizing a younger voting age. By the mid-20th century, the voting age across most states was 21. Echoing their earlier counterparts during World War II and Korea, a slew of young Americans argued that if they were old enough to be drafted and fight in Vietnam, they should have the right to vote.

Parallel to those fighting in Vietnam, young leaders at home confronted major political issues day in and day out and kept the pressure on lawmakers to lower the voting age.

Path to Passage

During his 1969 State of the Union address, President Richard Nixon voiced support for lowering the voting age to 18. Throughout his 1968 bid for the Presidency, Nixon and his team focused on engaging younger voters overall, even launching the “Young Voters for Nixon” coalition to fire them up. This strategy underscores how seriously Nixon and other contemporaries considered the political power of the youth in this era, especially with the knowledge that the voting age amendment was on the horizon.

In March 1971, Congress passed the 26th Amendment, which declares, “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.” This amendment effectively lowered the voting age nationwide from 21 to 18.

The amendment then underwent the ratification process, requiring approval from three-fourths of the state legislatures. By July 1, 1971, the necessary 38 states had ratified it, and Secretary of State William P. Rogers certified it as law on July 5, 1971.

Running to the Polls

The impact of the 26th Amendment was almost immediate. In the 1972 presidential election, millions of young Americans aged 18 to 21 exercised their newfound right to vote. This demographic played a crucial role, energized by issues such as civil rights, the emerging women’s liberation movement, and opposition to the Vietnam War.
Since its enactment, youth voter turnout has varied by election, but it remains a critical aspect of American electoral politics. The amendment not only ensured equal voting rights regardless of age, but tacitly recognized the centrality of young citizens in our body politic.

Long-Lasting Impact

The 26th Amendment continues to be relevant as young people engage with contemporary political issues. Organizations like our friends at History Made by Us are specifically geared toward engaging Gen-Z folks in civic and historical institutions. Ensuring that the next generation of leaders are embedded in our electoral politics was certainly ignited in part by the 26th Amendment’s ratification.
Moreover, some members of Congress have introduced legislation to potentially lower the voting age further to 16 or 17. This policy reflects ongoing debates about the maturity and knowledge necessary for the voting base of a fully effective participatory democracy