Which of the following most directly led to the expansion of the electorate to include 18-year-olds?

Which of the following most directly led to the expansion of the electorate to include 18-year-olds?

• A. The Reconstruction amendments
• B. The passage of woman suffrage
• C. The military draft during the Vietnam War
• D. The passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer: (C)

The question is about what event directly expanded the electorate to include 18-year-olds. The draft during the Vietnam War is the key driver: being eligible for military service at 18 but not able to vote created a powerful argument for granting the vote to 18-year-olds. This pressure helped lead to the nationwide change that lowered the voting age. The other events addressed different groups or protections (former enslaved people, women, or minority voters) and did not directly cause the change in the voting age.

The question is about what event directly expanded the electorate to include 18-year-olds. The draft during the Vietnam War is the key driver: being eligible for military service at 18 but not able to vote created a powerful argument for granting the vote to 18-year-olds. This pressure helped lead to the nationwide change that lowered the voting age. The other events addressed different groups or protections (former enslaved people, women, or minority voters) and did not directly cause the change in the voting age.