26th Amendment

Old enough to fight, Old enough to vote

Sep 1, 1939

During World War ll President Franklin D. Roosevelt lowered the age for military draft age to 18. He then said "If you're old enough to fight, you are old enough to vote".

Jennings Randolph

1942

Jennings Randolph was a Democratic Congressman from West Virgina and he introduced to the Federal Legislation to lower the voting age.

Georgia

1943

Georgia became the first state to lower the voting age in the state and local elections

Dwight D. Eisenhower

1945

Dwight D. Eisenhower led the U.S armed forces to victory in Europe, he then later was the first president to publicly voice his support for a Constitutional Amendment to lowering the minimum voting age.

Vietnam War

Nov 1, 1955

During the Vietnam war the voting age became a very strong topic. People didn't understand if they were getting drafted to fight then why couldn't they vote. "Those old enough to be drafted for military service should be able to exercise the right to vote"

Oregon VS. Mitchell

1970

The case Oregon VS. Mitchell divided the U.S Supreme court and it ruled that congress had the right to regulate the minimum age in federal elections but not at the state and local level.

Teens Protest

1971

Teens protested and said "the fact that 18 year olds get drafted to fight in the war but could not vote in federal elections in most states" It wasn't fair.

Voted Unanimously

Mar 10, 1971

The senate voted unanimously for the Constitutional Amendment lowering the voting age. Majority of the house voted yes on March 23rd.
This happened 30 years after senator Randolph first proposed lowering the voting age.

26th Amendment passed

Jul 1, 1971

The 26th Amendment was ratified and passed

Ceremony

Jul 5, 1971

They had a ceremony at the White house in front of 500 members. President Richard Nixon signed the amendment along with three selected 18 year olds as a witness.