26TH AMENDMENT

What is this amendment about?

• Changed the minimum voting age from twenty one to eighteen

SECTION ONE

• "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 TWO

• "The congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation"

WHY?

• During WWII, President Franklin D. Roosevelt lowered the minimum draft age to 18
• Caused much disagreement and conflict among the people

"Old enough to fight, old enough to vote."

WHY?

• Laws regarding voting age intensified during the Vietnam war
• Young men who were drafted were denied the right to vote.

WHEN?

• Passed on March 23, 1971
• Ratified on July 1, 1971

COURT CASE

• Oregon v.s. Mitchell
• In 1970, Oregon, Texas, and Idaho brought suit against the Supreme Court
• Challenged new voting age
• Wanted states to be able to establish individual qualification rules for voting, instead of congress.

COURT CASE

• Decided that the minimum voting age for national elections must be 18
• Individual states and towns can change voting age for local elections only

WORKS CITED

• "The 26th Amendment." History. A&E Television Networks LLC., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. .
• "Amendment XXVI: Right to Vote at Age 18." National Constitution Center. Independence Mall, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. .
• "Rare Video Shows FDR Walking." NBC News. nbcnews.com, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. .
• Rashi, Ashwath. "Amendment XXVI." Guide to the U.S Constition. Weebly, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015. .
• "Oregon v. Mitchell, 1970." phschool.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015.