71. Which of the following amendments lowered the voting age to 18?
Answer: C
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1971, established 18 years as the minimum voting age. This amendment was a significant progression in expanding democratic rights to younger citizens.
A) Twenty-Fourth Amendment
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment, ratified in 1964, prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections. While it is a critical amendment in the context of voting rights, it does not address the voting age.
B) Twenty-Fifth Amendment
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967, deals with presidential succession and disability. It does not pertain to voting rights or the voting age, making it irrelevant to the question.
C) Twenty-Sixth Amendment
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment specifically lowered the voting age to 18 years old. This amendment was a direct response to the argument that those old enough to be drafted for military service should also have the right to vote, thus making it the correct answer.
D) Twenty-Seventh Amendment
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment, ratified in 1992, addresses congressional pay increases and does not relate to voting rights or the voting age. Therefore, it is not relevant to the question being asked.
E) Nineteenth Amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote. While it was a landmark achievement in voting rights, it does not address the voting age, and thus is not the correct answer.
Conclusion
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment is definitively the correct answer as it specifically lowered the voting age to 18, reflecting societal changes regarding youth participation in democracy. All other options either relate to different aspects of voting rights or do not address the voting age at all, confirming that they cannot be considered correct in this context.