Mass. Ratifies Voting Amendment

The Massachusetts legislature yesterday ratified the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which would extend the right to vote in all elections to 18-year-olds.

The Senate approved a ratification resolution on a 38 to 0 roll call vote. The House concurred with a 213 to 8 vote less than an hour later. The resolution does not require the signature of Gov. Francis Sargent.

The amendment was sent to the 50 states after the United States Congress overwhelmingly passed the measure. The approval of three-fourths of the states (33) will make the 18-year-old vote national law.

The issue arose after a five to four decision of the Supreme Court in December which ruled that Congress could lower the voting age only for the election of President, Vice President, Senator and Representative.