Which amendment to the Constitution grants the right to vote for U.S. citizens?

The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1971, specifically grants the right to vote to all citizens who are 18 years of age or older, thus ensuring that younger citizens can participate in the democratic process. This amendment emerged from the national discourse around the Vietnam War, where many argued that if individuals were old enough to be drafted and fight for their country, they should also have the right to vote. The Twenty-sixth Amendment reflects a significant expansion of voting rights in the U.S., reinforcing the principle of equality in democratic participation for younger generations.

In contrast, the First Amendment addresses freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition, but does not pertain to voting rights specifically. The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, grants women the right to vote, marking a critical step for gender equality in voting, but it does not confer voting rights universally to all citizens. The Twenty-fourth Amendment, ratified in 1964, prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections, removing a financial barrier to voting but not establishing the voting age. Each of these amendments plays a distinct role in the larger context of voting rights in the U.S., with the Twenty