Which amendment to the Constitution allows citizens 18 and older to vote?

The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution is the one that specifically grants the right to vote to citizens who are 18 years of age or older. Ratified in 1971, this amendment was enacted to address the concerns that young people, especially those drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, should have the right to participate in the electoral process. By lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, the amendment ensures that younger citizens have a voice in government and elections, reflecting the democratic principle that all citizens should have the opportunity to contribute to the political process.

Other amendments listed have different focuses. The First Amendment deals with fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press. The Fifteenth Amendment prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, while the Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote. Each of these amendments plays a critical role in expanding and protecting voting rights, but it is the Twenty-sixth Amendment that specifically addresses the voting age.