On March 23, 1971, Congress passed the 26th Amendment stating that the voting age in the United States would be lowered from 21 to 18. The 26th Amendment was then ratified on July 1, 1971. 

According to History.com, “‘Old enough to fight, old enough to vote’ became a common slogan for a youth voting rights movement.” Citizens were protesting, asserting that teens who are willing to risk their lives for their country should be able to have a choice between candidates who would run their country.

Recently, across the internet, some citizens of the U.S. are saying they want the voting age to be lowered to 16. According to Axios.com, “Washington, D.C. is on the verge of becoming the first major U.S. city to allow people as young as 16 to vote in local and federal elections, including for president — under a proposal that has gotten support from a majority of the District’s council and the mayor.”

Senior Eric Martinez commented, “‘Vote at 16’ is this bill that people in Berkeley made where students will be able to vote in city elections and school board elections that way they get kids more involved.” Martinez added, “the school board in Ventura wanted to implement this, and they contacted me, so I’m actually working on that right now. I’m writing the bill for it and it will be going through hopefully in the future, and then [students will] be able to vote in school board and city elections.”

According to a recent pew survey posted on The Cougar Press Twitter account, out of 68 voters, 16% believe that the voting age should be lowered to 16, 72% believe the voting age should stay at 18, and 12% believe the voting age should be raised to 21.

However, to YouthRights.org, “Whether it is forming political groups at school, organizing protests, or using social media to express their opinion, young people find a way to become involved in politics. If they want to be involved in the political process this badly, how can politicians deny them the right any longer?”