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Congress Can Lower Voting Age In Federal, But Not State Or Local Elections

1970

After the passage of the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970, several states refuse to comply. The U.S. government files cases against the states of Arizona and Idaho to seek compliance with the law. Texas and Oregon file lawsuits claiming Congress overstepped its authority when it passed the law. At the U.S. Supreme Court, the four cases are combined into Oregon v. Mitchell. The Court upholds the federal prohibitions on literacy tests and residency requirements and certain rules on absentee balloting. The Court also rules that Congress can lower the voting age in federal elections, but not in state and local elections.