In 1971, the 26th Amendment deemed eighteen year olds as eligible to vote, but are eighteen year olds of today’s society equally qualified?

The Amendment to lower the voting age to eighteen was a result of the rise in student activists in the 1960’s protesting the Vietnam War. These students argued that if eighteen year olds can be drafted to fight in the war, then they should be old enough to vote in federal elections. This logic gained enough support to be presented to Congress, and the Amendment was ratified.

In 1973, the U.S. Armed Forces accepted volunteers and no longer depended on the draft for a military. Since eighteen year olds are no longer required to fight in the army, many citizens, especially conservatives over the age of forty, think eighteen year olds are too young to vote.

These people argue that the right to vote shouldn’t be based on age, but rather what a person’s contribution to society is. If an eighteen year old was enrolled in the military, they would be qualified to vote. If a person pays taxes, bills, and has a job, then they are qualified as well. Someone who has no contribution to society has nothing to gain or lose from voting – so why are they allowed to vote for representatives that create laws for taxpayers?

Not all eighteen year olds do something for their country like eighteen year olds in the 1960s did. Instead of having every eighteen year old eligible for suffrage, the right to vote should depend on one’s impact on society.