The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1971, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. The amendment was passed in response to the Vietnam War, when young men were being drafted to fight in the war but were not allowed to vote. The slogan "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" became a rallying cry for the youth voting rights movement.
The amendment was also motivated by a belief that 18-year-olds were mature enough to participate in the political process. After all, they were old enough to serve in the military, pay taxes, and enter into contracts. In addition, the amendment was seen as a way to increase voter turnout among young people, who tend to vote at lower rates than older adults.
The Twenty-sixth Amendment was ratified by the states in just four months, making it one of the fastest-ratified amendments in history. The amendment has had a significant impact on American democracy, increasing the number of eligible voters by an estimated 11 million people. It has also helped to ensure that the voices of young people are heard in the political process.
Here are some additional details that you may want to include in your response:
* The Twenty-sixth Amendment was proposed by Senator Birch Bayh of Indiana.
* The amendment was ratified by the required three-fourths of the states on July 1, 1971.
* The amendment was signed into law by President Richard Nixon.
* The amendment has been challenged in court several times, but it has always been upheld.