The voting age was lowered in response to changing social and political dynamics in the U. S. and to offer citizens a greater say in the political process. In 1971, the 26th amendment to the U. S. Constitution was passed, setting the minimum voting age to 18.
Before this, the voting age was 21, but the passage of the amendment allowed people as young as 18 to participate in the electoral process.
The main driver behind the passage of the 26th amendment was the Vietnam War. At the time, 18 year olds were being drafted and sent to the battlefield, while they were not allowed to cast a ballot at home.
This discrepancy spurred a broad effort to create greater equality between young people’s civic and military duties, and the lowered voting age ultimately became a concrete representation of these ideals.
The amendment passed by an overwhelming majority, with 94 senators and 401 representatives voting in favor. It was seen as a triumph for civil rights, justice, and democracy and it allowed younger generations to bring their collective voice to the realm of politics.
What law lowered the voting age?
The 26th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, which was passed by Congress and ratified on July 1, 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old. This amendment was initiated in response to public backlash from young adults who were of legal age to fight in the Vietnam War, but not allowed to participate in the voting process.
In the wake of the tumultuous and at times violent protests of the 1960s, the nation was ready for a change and the 26th Amendment was seen as an important piece of civil rights legislation. The amended text reads “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 was a major victory for young adult suffrage and was an important milestone in the ongoing fight for civil rights.
Why are 18 year olds allowed to vote?
The right of every citizen to vote is an integral part of democracy. Voting is how citizens can make their voices heard, influence public policy and stand up for their own rights. At 18, individuals are considered responsible and mature enough to understand the implications of their actions and make properly informed decisions at the ballot box.
In the United States, the voting age has always been a hot-button issue. Until 1971, only 21 year-olds were allowed to vote in national elections. During this time, the voting age was often determined by states, with many allowing 18 year-olds to cast their ballots.
Finally, in 1971, the US Congress passed an amendment to the Constitution granting all 18 year-olds the right to vote.
In most democracies, a person’s eligibility to vote is linked to their age. According to the human rights organization Fair Vote, the majority of countries grant this right to 18 year-olds. The rationale for this is that 18 is traditionally the age when individuals are legally accepted as adults and granted other adult rights like the ability to enter into contracts and hold a driver’s license.
Additionally, age 18 is seen as a time when a person is mature enough to weigh the impact that their decision can have on the future of their country and the world.
Allowing 18 year-olds to vote also helps to increase overall turnout. By lowering the voting age, more young people will engage in the electoral process and become active members of society. As more young people are exposed to the importance of voting, there is hope that they will help to shape the future of their country and stimulate meaningful conversations between politicians and citizens.
When did voting age decrease 18?
In 1971, the voting age in the United States was lowered to 18 from 21. This change was the result of the passage of the 26th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. The amendment was passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified by the states on July 1 of the same year.
The impetus for the 26th Amendment was the Vietnam War, specifically the draft that forced young men to fight in the war even if they were unable to vote. This generated strong public outcry, as those being drafted felt that they should have the right to vote for their leaders and influence the government, especially due to the fact that they were forced by the government to fight in a war.
The Amendment was relatively straightforward and simply stated: “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 not only had a huge impact on the Vietnam War, but it allowed millions of young adults to exercise their right to vote, helping to make the electorate more diverse and representative of the general population.
What argument was given for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years in 1989?
In 1989, the ratification of the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution made it illegal to bar citizens from exercising their right to vote on the basis of age. The Amendment, which set the voting age at eighteen for all federal, state and local elections, was driven by a rekindled debate on the proper age of adulthood and its coinciding responsibilities, particularly in regard to voting.
The debate advanced the argument that the previous voting age of twenty-one had become obsolete. Its roots, which led back to colonial America, had been established in a time when legal emancipation was not easily attainable and when the average life expectancy was much shorter than it is today.
Some argued that if eighteen year-olds were considered adults in almost all other aspects of life – being able to sign contracts, marry, join the military, and otherwise being held responsible for their actions – then it was only fair to give them the right to vote.
In addition, eighteen year-olds possess an understanding of the world and a capacity for civic engagement that can no longer be denied. If a person is legally and responsibly able to participate in all other aspects of adult life, then the argument is made that he or she can also effectively exercise their right to vote.
The voting age of twenty-one is thus viewed as both outdated and unnecessary.
Ultimately, the 26th Amendment was ratified on July 1, 1971, and the voting age was officially lowered from twenty-one to eighteen, setting the stage for young people to participate in our nation’s political system.
What was the main cause for reducing the legal voting age to 18 quizlet?
The main cause for reducing the legal voting age to 18 was increasing social pressure to grant civil rights and liberties to young adults. In the United States, demonstrators had been pushing for a reduction in the voting age since the 1940s, with pressure increasing during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
This pressure, combined with increasing public sentiment that 18-year-olds were capable and deserving of suffrage, led to the passage of the 26th Amendment on July 1, 1971. This Amendment lowered the national voting age from 21 to 18 in the US and made it illegal to deny any US citizen 18 years old or older the right to vote.
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 stop?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in the history of the United States. It prohibited the discriminatory purposeful act of denying citizens of the right to vote based on race, color, or creed.
It achieved this through a variety of measures, including outlawing tests and other requirements as pre-requisites to voting and allowing federal oversight access to states and jurisdictions with a history of voter discrimination.
In addition, it provided a means for citizens to challenge laws that prevented them from exercising their right to vote.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that changed the course of history, helping to ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the United States.
The Act abolished literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that had for decades suppressed the votes of people of color. It authorized the Attorney General of the United States to investigate nature of voting requirements and to seek court order to suspend such requirements if necessary.
More broadly, the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark event in the civil rights movement and its legacy shaped the landscape of American politics and culture. In the years since its passage, the Voting Rights Act has empowered millions of Americans, who now have the right to actively and effectively participate in the political process.
This is an inspiring reminder of the power of democracy and the importance of protecting access to voting for all citizens.
What did the 15th Amendment do?
The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed into law on February 3, 1870. It prohibited the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
The 15th Amendment was a crucial step in the civil rights movement and the fight for racial equality in the United States. It followed the passage of the 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery, and the 14th Amendment, which granted all citizens due process of law and equal protection under the laws.
The 15th Amendment was a major victory against racial inequality and granted African-Americans the right to vote regardless of their race or slavery status. Despite the triumph of this amendment, the practice of racial discrimination and the prevention of the African-American population from voting still persisted in the form of poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and various other measures meant to restrain African-Americans from exercising their right to vote.
It was not until 1965, that the Voting Rights Act was passed, which outlawing these barriers, thus providing true and equal access to voting for all citizens regardless of race.
Why were the 13 14 and 15 amendments passed?
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution were intended to ensure civil rights and freedoms for all citizens of the country regardless of race or color.
The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 and outlawed slavery in the United States. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, made all citizens of the United States equal under the law and guaranteed citizenship rights regardless of race or color.
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, ensured that the right to vote would not be denied based on race or color.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution were part of the Reconstruction Era, a period following the Civil War when the country was rebuilding a unified nation. These Amendments were seen as fundamental for protecting the civil rights of all Americans, particularly African Americans, who had been denied their rights for so long.
The Amendments were passed in response to the segregation and exclusion experienced by African Americans during the Civil War. Before the passing of these Amendments, blacks faced deep discrimination in the workplace, education, and in voting rights.
Unfortunately, despite the passing of the Amendments, blacks faced continued discrimination across the United States for years to come. These Amendments established the foundation for future civil rights legislation and were the first steps towards ensuring liberty and justice for all citizens.
Why were the 13th 14th and 15th Amendments added to the U.S. Constitution quizlet?
The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution were added in order to ensure civil rights for all Americans. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, making it unlawful for any individual to be enslaved in the United States.
The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 and was designed to guarantee all Americans legal and civil rights, regardless of race. It also extended the protection of the Bill of Rights to all individuals, including citizens of the United States.
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prevented the government from denying a citizen the right to vote because of their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. All three of these proposed changes to the Constitution were necessary steps after the Civil War in order to ensure the protection of African Americans by the law and to ensure equality for all.
When did all citizens 18 or older get the right to vote?
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on August 18th, 1920, granting all citizens 18 years old or older the right to vote regardless of gender. This Amendment overturned the ruling of minor vs.
Happersett, a Supreme Court case from 1875 which held that the 14th Amendment of the U. S. Constitution did not give women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was first introduced by Senator Aaron A.
Sargent in 1878 and it passed both the House and Senate in 1919, then needed to be ratified by the states. Tennessee was the 36th and the last state to ratify the Amendment, causing it to become part of the U.
S. Constitution.
What age has the lowest voter turnout?
Generally speaking, the age group with the lowest voter turnout is typically younger people. According to research performed by the U. S. Census Bureau in November 2018, voter turnout for those 18-29 years old was just 36.
4%. This was significantly lower than the overall national turnout rate of 53. 4%. It should also be noted that while voter turnout among older Americans has been steadily increasing, the opposite is true for those in the 18-29 age group, with turnout decreasing 2.
2% since the 2014 midterm elections.
The decrease in voter turnout among younger people can be attributed to a variety of factors. On one hand, this age group is notoriously less politically engaged. They tend to focus on day to day living, and as a result are less informed on candidates and issues outside of their immediate communities.
Additionally, younger people are more likely to move around and change their place of residence regularly, which can make it difficult for them to stay up to date with the registration and identification requirements of their current localities.
Barriers such as these have contributed to the decrease in voter turnout among the younger generation.
Why shouldn t the voting age be lowered to 16 in Australia?
Firstly, the Democratic Audit of Australia acknowledged that “in a nation with a voluntary voting system like Australia, it is important that the electorate is rational, well informed and understands the political processes they are participating in while exercising the right to vote.
” Essentially, voting involves making important decisions that determine the future of a nation and its citizens. Democracy is based on the notion that citizens make informed decisions based on adequate evidence and knowledge of political processes.
As such, it is important that citizens feel confident and capable of making informed decisions when casting their votes.
At 16, most people are still in an age group where they are still attaining knowledge and learning how to interpret information. Lowering the voting age to 16 could lead to young people not having enough confidence and understanding to make educated decisions when voting, which could lead to skewed results.
Additionally, it has been suggested that lowering the voting age to 16 would not actually increase youth participation in the electoral process. This is because the majority of 16-year-olds are still living with their parents and so may not be as inclined to vote as older generations.
A 2012 survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that the proportion of people aged 15-19 who voted declined from 74% in 1998 to 67. 8 in 2010. This suggests that even if the voting age was lowered to 16, the spending of resources to increase youth voter enfranchisement wouldn’t necessarily have an impact.
For these reasons, it would be ill-advised to lower the voting age to 16 in Australia.