by Jennifer Frost

The maps and timelines on these pages are based on Jennifer Frost's 2021 book

Here we explore the history and geography of the campaign for the 18-year-old vote and the 26th Amendment, 1867-1971. Passed and ratified in 1971, the 26th Amendment to the US Constitution required all states, territories, and the District of Columbia to allow citizens aged 18 and up to vote. This achievement came after three decades of consistent advocacy and action at the state and federal levels.

Although discussions of youth suffrage predated this period, including an 1867 proposal at the New York State Constitutional Convention, only after the US military draft age dropped to 18 during World War II did efforts, campaigns, and an eventual movement start to gain momentum. Beginning in 1942 under the slogan “old enough to fight, old enough to vote,” proponents of youth voting rights argued that young Americans were fulfilling the responsibilities of citizenship—whether male or female on the battlefront or homefront—and thus deserved the rights. After that, proposals for a US constitutional amendment regularly came before Congress, while state and territorial legislatures considered their own measures. Always bipartisan, support for youth suffrage spanned the nation.

The first state to lower its voting age was Georgia in 1943, followed by Kentucky in 1955, while Guam adopted the 18-year-old vote in 1954. By the end of 1970, nine states and five territories had voting ages below 21, and a Supreme Court decision in Oregon v. Mitchell (1970) upheld Congressional legislation to enfranchise all 18-year-olds for federal elections but not for state and local elections. This patchwork of different ages across the states and territories propelled passage and ratification of the 26th Amendment to enact a uniform national voting age of 18 in 1971. Learn more in three pages (with maps) linked below.

Interactive map showing states considering or enacting youth voting laws prior to constitutional amendment (click)
State laws and campaigns 1867-1970

Much of the action and early success on youth voting rights occurred at the state and territorial level. Legislative proposals, citizen petitions, lobbying, popular initiatives, litigation, and referendum campaigns were pursued by individuals, groups, and organizations. Students and young adults participated in early youth suffrage efforts in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s, they started organizations and launched campaigns, and, by 1969, they had built a youth franchise movement. The first state to adopt the 18-year-old vote was Georgia in 1943, and the last was Nevada in 1971 (which passed while ratification for the 26th Amendment was happening). MORE

Timeline of Congressional proposals 1942-1971
Timeline of Federal Constitutional Proposals

Proponents of youth voting rights at the federal level drew on Article 1, Section 4 of the US Constitution and the precedent set by earlier suffrage amendments to push for a national 18-year-old vote. Over a thirty-year period, presidents and members of Congress worked to convince their congressional colleagues, as well as their fellow citizens. These efforts came to fruition with a constitutional amendment, passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification in March 1971. MORE

Map showing state by state ratification campaign 1971
State ratification of 26th Amendment

Proponents of youth voting rights won their battle at the federal level in March 1971 when Congress passed the 26th Amendment with 2/3 majorities in both houses and sent it to the states for ratification. This map shows the states and the dates they ratified the 26th Amendment. MORE