“Of course they can. GA let 19 year-olds vote before the 26th Amendment. I believe AK let 18 year-olds vote.”
Sorry, maybe they allowed them to vote in local elections, but the Federal government has sole authority to determine the qualification of electors (voters) in federal elections. That’s why the 26th Amendment was necessary, to permit states to allow 18 year old to vote in federal elections. If the states had the authority to allow anyone to vote in federal elections regardless of age, then there would have been need for that amendment.
Nope, they voted in all elections, including Federal. The 26th Amendment didn’t ‘allow’ states to lower the voting age to 18, it forbade them not letting 18+ year-olds from voting. The states always had the authority to let them vote, but nearly all did not.
The same thing is true of the 19th Amendment. Most states in 1920 allowed women to vote in all elections, including Federal before it was ratified. The 19th simply required the remaining states to allow women the right to vote.
There is a difference. As I said most states did not allow 18-20 year old to vote when the 26th was ratified and most states did allow women the right to vote in all elections.
I’m sure there is a Federal law saying that only citizens can vote in Federal elections, but I can’t think of any other qualifications. Well, the 14th Amendment does mention some disqualifiers for those who were in rebellion...
Felons cannot vote in most elections, but several states are extending the right to vote to felons. Some are even letting people in prison vote—in all elections.