This was a life-changing amendment for those in my generation. The US involvement in Vietnam lasted from 1955 to 1975. Our actual combat missions started in 1965 and looked like it would never end. The draft started in 1969, when I was twelve years old. We talked about this in our current events classes every week. The boys in my class were concerned that they would have to fight in a war that seemed to have no cause, no reason for risking their lives.
A LOT of young people felt the same way. To add salt to the wounds, young men were required to register for the draft and could die in a war three years before they could vote. It was unjust.
Congress caught onto it. They proposed and passed Amendment XXVI in March 1971, lowering the voting age to eighteen. The states ratified it by July 1, 1971, the fastest ratification in American history (just four months).
The transcript is from National Archives (archives.gov).
AMENDMENT XXVI
Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.
Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.
Section 1.
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 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
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