What is established by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment?

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution establishes the voting age as 18 years. Ratified in 1971, this amendment signifies a critical shift in voting rights, particularly in response to the arguments surrounding the Vietnam War. Many young Americans who were 18, 19, or 20 years old were being conscripted to fight but were not granted the right to vote, leading to widespread calls for reform. By lowering the voting age to 18, the amendment ensured that those who were old enough to serve in the military were also granted the right to influence the government through voting. This was an important step towards expanding democratic participation and youth representation in the electoral process.