What did the 26th amendment establish regarding voting rights?

The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1971, specifically established that citizens who are 18 years of age or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on their age. This amendment was a significant expansion of voting rights because it lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, ensuring that younger adults, particularly those who were being drafted into military service during the Vietnam War, had a voice in the electoral process.

This amendment reflects the belief that if individuals are deemed mature enough to serve in the military and take on other responsibilities of adulthood, they should also have the right to participate in the democratic process by voting. The amendment has had a lasting impact on voter demographics and policies surrounding youth engagement in politics.

The other options do not accurately reflect the intent or content of the 26th Amendment. For instance, the amendment does not state voting must be mandatory for all citizens, nor does it restrict voting rights to only women or allow states to set their own voting ages. Each of these misconceptions fails to recognize the amendment's clear focus on ensuring that those 18 and older have the right to vote without discrimination based on age.