Constitution Mis-State: Rick Perry Mistakes Voting Age For 21 In New Hampshire Speech

As if it matters anymore, former GOP frontrunner Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) committed a gaffe while speaking to a crowd at New Hampshire’s Saint Anselm’s College today.  Gov. Perry told the crowd, “Those who are going to be over 21 on November 12th, I ask for your support,” mistaking the United States’ voting age for 21, when it has, in fact, been constitutionally mandated at no younger than 18 since 1971.

A Perry campaign spokesman later said that the Governor “misspoke,” but maybe Governor Perry was actually referring to the drinking age. Given the state of this year’s Republican presidential field, he wouldn’t be that out of line in suggesting that voters knock back a few before they have to make that kind of a choice.

It’s also possible that Perry can only remember the first two amendments. The voting age doesn’t come up until #26.

Here’s video of Perry’s faux-pas, from The Associated Press:

(h/t ThinkProgress)

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.

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