Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

The Twenty-sixth Amendment is responsible for lowering the voting age to 18 years. Ratified in July 1971, this amendment emerged from the context of the Vietnam War, where young men were being drafted to fight but were not granted the right to vote. This inconsistency highlighted the need to ensure that those who were old enough to serve in the military were also allowed to participate in the democratic process. The Twenty-sixth Amendment reflects a significant shift in recognition of the rights of younger citizens and reinforces the principle of inclusivity in voting rights.

The other amendments, while significant, do not pertain to the voting age. The Fifteenth Amendment focuses on voting rights regardless of race, the Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote, and the Twenty-fourth Amendment abolishes poll taxes in federal elections. Therefore, the Twenty-sixth Amendment specifically addresses and establishes the voting age at 18.