Assembly Resolution No. 367
BY: M. of A. Walker
CELEBRATING the 50th Anniversary of the passage by
the United States Congress of the 26th Amendment,
providing for the voting rights of 18, 19 and 20
year-olds, to the Constitution of the United States
WHEREAS, On March 23, 1971, Congress passed the 26th Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States, guided by the shared ideals of
freedom, sovereignty, democracy, civil liberties, and individual rights;
and
WHEREAS, Since the lowering of the draft age to 18 in World War II,
there had been repeated efforts to lower the voting age to address the
fact that there were young men who were old enough to fight a world war,
but not old enough to vote in the country they were fighting for; and
WHEREAS, On March 10, 1971, the United States Senate voted 94-0 in
support of proposing an amendment that would lower the minimum voting
age to 18 everywhere in the country, and on March 23rd, the United
States House of Representatives voted 401-19 for the amendment; and
WHEREAS, On July 1, 1971, three-quarters of the states ratified the
amendment, just three months for 38 states to ratify the Amendment, the
fastest any amendment had been approved; and
WHEREAS, The introduction, passage, and ultimate ratification of the
26th Amendment was the culmination of years of work and struggle by
advocates for the rights of young adults across the United States; and
WHEREAS, The ratification of the 26th Amendment ensured young adults
could more fully participate in our democracy and fundamentally changed
the role of young adults in the civic life of our Nation; and
WHEREAS, The 26th Amendment gave young people rights to directly
participate in the political process and amplified their voices in the
campaigns for civil rights, environmental protection, women's rights and
for ending the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, The 50th Anniversary of Congress' ratification of the 26th
Amendment represents a historical milestone to be lauded and celebrated,
and will be observed at an event on Wednesday, June 2, 2021; in the year
1971, on June 2nd, New York as a State ratified the 26th Amendment; and
WHEREAS, The 26th Amendment provides for young adult suffrage,
promotes the core values of our democracy as promised by the
Constitution of the United States, continues to strengthen democratic
participation, and inspires future generations to cherish and preserve
the historic precedent established under its ratification; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the passage by the United States
Congress of the 26th Amendment, providing for the voting rights of 18,
19 and 20 year-olds, to the Constitution of the United States.
