Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

• A. 26th Amendment
• B. 19th Amendment
• C. 15th Amendment
• D. 14th Amendment

Answer: (A)

Lowering the voting age to 18 nationwide required a constitutional amendment that explicitly sets 18 as eligible to vote in all elections. This amendment states that citizens aged 18 and older have the right to vote and that neither the United States nor any state may deny that right based on age. It was ratified in 1971, partly in response to arguments that those old enough to serve in the military should have a say in the democratic process.

This change directly establishes the minimum voting age, which is why it’s the correct choice. The other amendments address different aspects of voting rights: the 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote; the 15th Amendment prohibits denying the vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude; and the 14th Amendment covers citizenship and equal protection under the law, without setting a voting-age requirement.