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This slogan was created during the Vietnam War, when young people who did not have the right to vote were kept fighting and therefore unable to influence the decisions of those in command. The slogan had its roots in World War II when the military draft age was lowered to 18. -
Jennings Randolph was the father of the 26th Amendment. He was a Democratic representative from West Virginia, introduces an amendment to lower the voting age to eighteen. He continued to propose the amendment until it was accepted -
Georgia was the first state to lower the minimum voting age to 18. The voting age was 18 only in the local elections. -
Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to publicly express his support for lowering the minimum voting age to 18. Eisenhower declared in 1945: “For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have been called upon, in times of danger, to fight for America. They should participate in the political process that leads to this fateful convocation.” -
Oregon was the first state to lower the voting age to 18 for the all elections. This occurred before the 26th Amendment was amended and was an important step in the movement to extend voting rights to 18-year-olds in the United States. -
The U.S. Senate passes the 26th Amendment by a vote of 94-0, sending it to the states for ratification.
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President Richard Nixon signs the 26th Amendment, officially proposing it to the states. -
On June 24, 1970, by a vote of 401-19, the House of Representatives passed the 26th Amendment. This was a crucial step in the process of amending the Constitution, as it needed the approval of both the House of Representatives and the Senate first to be sent to the States for ratification.
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Between July 1 and August 6, 1970, the US states ratified the 26th amendment. Kentucky was the first state to did it. -
The 26th Amendment officially becomes part of the U.S. Constitution after being certified by the Archivist of the United States. After that all Americas could vote from 18 years old and not from 21.