Final answer:
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, effectively increasing the potential for youth participation in elections. However, young voter turnout has consistently been lower compared to other age groups, indicating that the amendment has not significantly boosted the overall national voter turnout rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effect of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment
The ratification of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971 had a significant effect on the American political landscape by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. This allowed a new demographic of young adults to participate in elections at both federal and state levels. Initially, the enfranchisement of 18-to-20-year-olds was a response to the argument that those old enough to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War should also have the right to vote. The intended effect was to increase political participation among younger citizens.
However, the historical data indicates that young voter turnout has been inconsistent. Although the voting age was lowered to increase the national voter turnout rate, the practical outcome has been more complex. In the earlier years following the amendment's passage, there was a significant drop in turnout among the younger voters below 40 percent. There have been temporary increases in turnout at various points, such as during the 2008 presidential election, but overall, younger voters have consistently shown lower rates of turnout compared to other age groups.
Therefore, while the Twenty-Sixth Amendment did increase the potential for youth participation in elections by expanding suffrage rights, it has not reliably led to a significant long-term increase in the national voter turnout rate among 18-to-20-year-olds.