Vote at Eighteen: 26th Amendment Ratified by Ohio
Ohio became the 38th state to ratify the 26th Amendment on June 30, 1971, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 and making it the fastest amendment ever ratified, taking just 100 days from congressional passage to ratification. The amendment was driven by the argument that young men old enough to be drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam (the draft age was 18) should be old enough to vote. The slogan "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote" had been used since World War II, but the Vietnam War's unpopularity among young people gave it irresistible political force. The amendment added approximately 11 million new voters to the electorate. Voter turnout among 18-20-year-olds was 55% in the 1972 presidential election but has generally declined since, averaging around 45% in recent elections.
June 30, 1971
55 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on June 30
He reportedly handed over sacred scriptures to Roman authorities during Diocletian's persecution — then sat on the throne of Saint Peter for eight years anyway.…
Troops loyal to the usurper Magnentius killed the rival claimant Nepotianus in Rome after just 28 days of his attempted seizure of power. The brief episode illu…
Constantine V shattered the Bulgarian army at the Battle of Anchialus, securing a decisive victory that forced the Bulgarian Khan Telets to flee. This triumph s…
He was 21 years old and already doomed. Zhu Yunwen inherited the Ming throne from his grandfather Hongwu in 1398, becoming the Jianwen Emperor — and immediately…
Swiss pikemen held their ground against the heavily armored Milanese cavalry at Arbedo, proving that disciplined infantry could dismantle the traditional domina…
Hernán Cortés lost 800 soldiers, most of his cannons, and nearly his life in a single night. June 30, 1520 — the Noche Triste, the Night of Sorrows — Aztec warr…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.