My First Vote, What Was Yours?

[ThomWV]

It was in 1968. I was in Viet Nam up in the tri-border area at some firebase or another - I don't remember which one anymore. It was an absentee ballot of course. When I joined the Army two years earlier I was in Miami, Florida so that is where I was registered.

Nixon was President, Humphrey was the non-anti-war Democrat running against him, George Wallace was an independent. Nixon was more liberal than most Democrats today and Humphrey wasn't an inch to the left of him. Wallace, who had been the Governor of Alabama, ran as a pro-segregation independent with hatred for blacks as his sole platform plank.

I voted for Humphrey, Nixon won. I've voted in every election for which I have been eligible ever since.

Which one was yours, where were you, what was your situation? How did you see the election?

On Edit: Nixon was not the President during the '69 Presidential election, Johnson was. Strange that I had forgotten proudly serving under him when he was Commander In Chief.

[judaspriestess]

1. My first vote was against Bush Sr.

I had a Dukakis button on and I was getting slammed by (white) people. This is when the repukes really started taking over Texas. I stood my ground. Told them republicans were not for minorities and of course they would never understand.

[longship]

2. My first vote: McGovern for President in 1972.

Didn't do any good, but I was a state delegate that year and we worked hard.

[elocs]

Mine too. Whatever happened to that Nixon guy? n/t

[trof]

31. Same here. I was 31.

I had been apolitical up until then.
But now I had a wife and a 1 year old little girl and I figured it was time to start trying to be a grownup.

Still workin' on that.
;-)

[sinkingfeeling]

51. Ditto.

[July]

76. Mine, too!

Still glad that was my first vote.

[HereSince1628]

3. For McGovern cast from Saigon...Seems it has always been uphill.

[jaxx]

8. I still have a McGovern bumper sticker.

[two gun sid]

4. 1980, just dropped out of college....

Voted for Jimmy Carter. Within a year I was in the military carrying out Reagan's crazy foriegn policies.

My first vote was the one vote I am most proud of. Jimmy Carter is a good man and a wonderful human being.

[CitizenLeft]

36. me too...

I had just turned 21 in 1980, voted for Jimmy Carter. Was heartbroken that such a good man was beaten by a deceitful trick (the first "October Surprise" - Reagan's negotiating with the hostage-holders in Iran to hold off the release of the hostages until after the election (actually, that was probably Bush I who made that shameful deal).

(also, I just want to say... Hubert Humphrey was actually much further to the left than an inch of Nixon - he was famous, and loved, for his stubborn support of Civil Rights when it wasn't popular to do so; Walter Mondale, Carter's VP, was his protege).

[MsKandice01]

5. My first was vote in the mid-terms in 1994...

I was 19. I specifically remember voting No on Proposition 187, California's ballot initiative to deny illegal immigrants access to social services, healthcare, and education. My polling place was in someone's garage in my neighborhood, which, at the time, I thought was pretty unusual. It went very smoothly though and I remember being impressed by how easy it was.

[jaxx]

6. 1968 was my first vote too.

I voted for HH and then tried to be a good American and support the bum RN. Anti-war got in the way (in a good way) and I supported anybody but Nixon or pubs after that. The 60s and 70s were a hot time for elections and protests against the war. I am glad I was a part of it all. It taught me a lot.....and I'm still anti-war.

Make Love Not War.

Bring em home.......alive!

[StraightDope]

7. My first vote...

Was in 2000 for President Gore, Senator Robert C. Byrd, Rep. Alan Mollohan, and various other local Dems. The only Repub who I voted for back then was the guy running for Sheriff. The Dem candidate was one of the most corrupt, evil SOBs that I've ever seen. He later got busted trolling for sex with children on the internet.

[KansDem]

9. You always remember your "first"

I was one of the first to vote at age 18 in 1972. I registered Republican at my high school. I did so because I was told I'd have to register "Republican" or "Democrat." "You'll have to register in one of the two parties if you want to vote in the next election!" was the reason given me. I was confused because I wanted to register "Independent," so I registered "R" Turns out the lady registering me was referring to the primary and not the general election. I was thinking only of the general election. Anyway, knowing my family were solid "Rs" (Kansas roots) I registered as such.

Well, I quickly switched to "I" for the 1972 election. I was following George McGovern and liked what I heard in his speeches and plans, and voted for him in 1972 (I had even attended a campaign stop of his at Balboa Park in San Diego). Anyway, he didn't win and you know the rest.

I was "I" for 20 years, but voted "D" (Carter, Dukakis, Clinton, Gore, Kerry). The only time I didn't vote "D" was in 1980 when I voted for Anderson (I). But I finally switched to "D" with the primaries of 1994 and wanted to vote for Tsongas. At a time when people were pointing fingers, I felt he understood the need for real mutual sacrifice in order to achieve some fiscal sanity.

Oh, although I had switched to "I" and voted for McGovern, I still received the "Thanks for the victory" card from Nixon following his win...hahaha, I still have it someplace.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. I was a gleam in my Daddy's eye...

My first vote was for Perot in 1996.

[w13rd0]

11. Lol...

...mine too, 1992 i think.

[Arkana]

12. 2004--I voted for President John Kerry.

[H2O Man]

13. Actually Nixon wasn't president.

LBJ was the president in 1968. Humphrey was VP. Nixon was not in office when he ran in '68.

[ThomWV]

22. Duhhhhhhh ......

You know, I knew that. Duhhhhhhhhhhh

Must have been one of those infamous brain-farts you hear so much about. Sorry about that little slipup.

[H2O Man]

26. A funny Nixon vs Bush quote

from the 11-13 Time (page 21): "I think George Bush is the most incompetent President we've had in our lifetime. I mean, nobody would accuse President Nixon of being incompetent."

-- Howard Dean, on being asked to compare the "relative merits" of Bush and Nixon

[budkin]

14. 1996 for Bill Clinton - nt

[shanti]

15. 1976, jimmy carter

n/t

[etherealtruth]

72. 1980: Jimmy Carter

[BuyingThyme]

16. I have no idea who I voted for.

But I totally remember the place and the atmosphere.

I will never vote absentee because I love walking in there and voting (even though the place has changed repeatedly over the years).

[Left Is Write]

57. I'd only vote absentee if I had to.

I also prefer paper ballots. There's an enormous satisfaction in walking to the voting booth and punching my card.

[krabigirl]

17. My first vote was for Clinton in 1992.

I was so happy to vote in that election, and was even happier when he actually won! I was 20 years old, and it was great that I could finally vote against Bush Sr. I'd spent high school hating Reagan and then Bush, so it felt pretty good to finally be allowed to have a voice.

I really thought Bush would be re-elected. Most of my family voted for Ross Perot...

(Yes, this is my first post. :) )

[ghostsofgiants]

39. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[jaysunb]

18. LBJ 1964

Got drafted 2 weeks later...in Nam within 9 months .

[Gato Moteado]

19. carter 1980

first time i actually voted for the guy who won was 1992, clinton.

[Blue-Jay]

20. 1988 midterm.

It would've been 1984, but I was 3 weeks too young.

[SteveG]

21. McGovern 1972

Voted in every election since. The only non-Democrat I ever voted for was John B. Anderson in 1980 -

[Graybeard]

23. I just missed JFK in 1960 by two weeks.

I was not 21 yrs old (the voting age in those days) until two
weeks after the 1960 election. My first vote was in 1964. I
voted for LBJ but in my heart I told myself it was a vote for
Kennedy. 

[TahitiNut]

24. LBJ in 1964; Nixon in 1968; Viet Nam nearly all of 1969

:shrug: McGovern in 1972

[Ariana Celeste]

25. '04

I think we all know how that turned out. :(.

[lizerdbits]

27. Clinton in 1992

I was attending Mississippi state at the time (transferred after freshman year). It was so great to sit in the lobby and listen to all the pukes cheer when Bush I got some small electoral vote state knowing they lost. I could only realy gloat internally since me and my BF were I think the only 2 non right wingers in the dorm and didn't tolerate libruls well (why bother I'd requested transfer applications by early November anyway). My mom got me a nice copy of that poem "On the pulse of morning" in honor of my first vote.
My first fake election was in 1980 in elementary school for president when my dad told me if I voted for Regan I was getting "five across the lips." :-)

[RayOfHope]

34. My first vote was for Clinton in 92 also

I was in college, and I remember it snowed as I walked to the courthouse to cast my vote.

[Alamom]

28. 1972 , age 20 . Voting " D's" for 34 years. n/t

[bamacrat]

29. 2002 midterms

[last_texas_dem]

44. Mine was the '02 midterms as well

I voted straight Dem, and I think (outside of some local races) every person that I voted for lost. (Sanchez, Sharp, Kirk, etc.) I'm hoping this year will be a little better. Well, if not here in Texas, at least I will get to hear some good news from some other places.

[endarkenment]

30. McGovern '72.

What a different world it would have been had america mellowed out and gone green instead of becoming the leader of the neo-fascist counter-revolution.

[Left Is Write]

32. 1984. I was 18. I was in Minnesota, and I voted for Walter Mondale.

I think we all know what happened that year.

[ceile]

33. Local election 1998 or 99

Can't remember. Knew nothing about it. My boss at the time gave me a newspaper and "10 mins to figure shit out" then he was driving me to my polling place. I think it was a bunch of city bond stuff.

[yng_dem]

35. first vote

specifically the primary.. but general.. today.. ben cardin, martin o'malley

[Graybeard]

41. Welcome to DU.

First vote...first post. Quite a day yng_dem.

[yng_dem]

48. shure was

ive lurked the forums for awhile as a guest.. decided it was finally time to post..

[Nicole]

37. 1976 for Jimmy Carter.

He won. :toast:

I haven't missed an election since.

[Tommymac]

42. Me Too. Spirit of 76...and a smiling Peanut! n/t

[Bluebear]

38. Gerald Ford, 1976

I grew up in Michigan and he was the home state guy. I knew nothing about politics, and a buddy from school asked me to phone bank for Ford. Fortunately it was the night the political "bug" hit me. Doubly fortunately, in talking to the Republican volunteers I thought "I really don't care for these people" :)

[Maeve]

75. Me too...it was my 21st birthday

Also my first legal purchase of alcohol...:party:

And that was the last time I voted for a Republican for president. :patriot:

[Red Right and BLUE]

40. Hate to admit it took me so long - but glad it was for Kerry 2004 nt

[vireo]

43. 1974 primary

It is the only time I have voted for a Republican. A fundy minister was challenging Rep. John B. Anderson. In retrospect, this was a watershed election, as it pitted the vanguard of the religious right taking on the remnants of liberal Republicanism. My next vote, however, was for the Dem running against Anderson, who this election has campaigned for the Dem candidate for this seat.

[WernhamHogg]

45. Clinton 1996

My first vote was for Clinton in 1996 when I was 18.

I remember watching the election closely in 1992 when I was 14 and wishing I was old enough to vote for Clinton.

[never cry wolf]

46. McGovern in 1972 here also...

I'm not sure why, I was fairly a-political and did not know much about either but my then girlfriend was a Quaker and I respected her parent's opinions.

I was very lucky with timing. I had just turned 18 3 months prior the first year 18 y.o's. were allowed to vote. My draft lotto number was 56 the year they cut back on the draft and I turned 19 the year Illinois allowed beer and wine sales to 19 year olds.

:beer:

[myrna minx]

47. 1990 for Paul Wellstone.

:cry: I miss him.

[BadgerKid]

49. '92; was turned away in '88

Was at university in 1988, but I didn't know there was such a thing as "designated end of the line," and so I was turned away. As a result of this my right to vote was first exercised in 1992.

[otohara]

72 - Told My Then Hubby If He Voted For Nixon

I would divorce him - We were kids!

[deepthought42]

2004, by absentee ballot

Because I was finishing my undergrad degree. It would have been 2000 (I turned 18 that year!), but sadly I didn't register in time.

I was so happy, checking off my ballot for Kerry... *sigh*

[Raffi Ella]

50. My First vote ever

was for Bill Clinton.I only went out and voted because I just liked the guy so much,no other reason.

By the year 2000 I was more aware and voted because I wanted to keep Democrats in office.

THIS is the first time I have ever voted in mid term elections.I can't imagine ever NOT voting them in them again.They are JUST as important as the Presidential election in my opinion.

[negativenihil]

52. 1998

My first vote was in the same year i turned 18, in a local election. I'm sorry i dont recall the details, but i can tell you this-
At that age for some reason the only people who'd talk with me *seriously* were the libertarians. Therefor, they got my votes.
To this day it bothers me that they were the only people willing to take a minute and speak to a young, new voter.

[BIG Sean]

53. Ronald Reagan...

Yup, my first vote ever was for Ronald Reagan. I then voted Republican in every election until "W" came along. I have now switched parties, and volunteer for my local democratic candidate.

[vireo]

60. Welcome aboard

:toast:

[Jack Rabbit]

54. McGovern in 1972

The election took place two days after my 21st birthday.

I regret that when I turned 18 the voting age had not bee lowered, otherwise I would have voted for Jesse Unruh against Ronald Reagan when he ran for re-election as governor in 1970.

[katamaran]

55. 1996 Clinton - Age 18

My first vote was at 18 for Clinton in 1996. I got my boyfriend to vote for the first time in his LIFE at age 36 for Kerry in 2004. He voted for Jim Webb this year.

[novalib]

56. New Hampshire Primary. 1972.

It was in New Hamphshire. February, 1972.

And I voted for George McGovern.

It was AWESOME!!!!!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. First vote was for Gov. in '66. Voted 3rd party in '68.

The dem lost in California.

Dr. Spock lost to the two war candidates.

[vireo]

62. Mmmm, was that Ronnie?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

64. Yep. Still can't get over the idea that anyone would be dumb enough to vote for him.

[dysfunctional press]

59. John Anderson in 1980.

[BulletproofLandshark]

61. 1998.

It shames me to say I didn't vote in 2000. I'll never make that mistake again.

[steve2470]

63. 1976 voted for Carter nt

[jab105]

65. 2000 - my first vote was for AL GORE!

And I'm so proud of that...

[Pithlet]

66. Clinton, 92.

I was in college, and I remember running into a classmate and we discussed who we were voting for. He was voting for Bush, ha ha.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

67. McGovern '72

Ours was the only Democratic family in our neighborhood. Our polling place was at a neighbor's house. Whenever my folks went to vote, they'd be teased about "now we have to open the Democratic ballots" and "we put aside two ballots just for you." Mom & Dad, both Dem campaigners, gave it back in kind. It was friendly ribbing.

When they took me to vote, the host gasped, "Oh my God, they've brought another one!" (Another part of the ribbing - our five-kid Catholic family was considered enormous.)

"Yep," Dad said proudly, "one way or another, we're gonna outnumber you!"

[skip fox]

68. 1968. Dick Gregory for President. Eldridge Cleaver for Sherriff of Wood County Ohio.

both write-ins of course.

[T Town Jake]

69. 1974 midterms.

(n/t)

[WritingIsMyReligion]

70. Haven't been able to vote yet!

;)

[citizen snips]

71. nov.7 2006

[Anwen]

73. My first vote was in 2000 for Al Gore

:)

[helderheid]

74. Kucinich for President in the 2004 primary n/t

[EdwardM]

77. 2004 General Election - John Kerry

I wasn't too thrilled to vote for Kerry considering he voted for the Iraq war and I had trouble figuring out his position on it. I wanted Dean to win the primary, but couldn't vote in it as I wasn't 18 then.

I was more thrilled to vote for Barack Obama for Senator. I hope I get to vote for him in 2008 for President.

[Spirochete]

78. McGovern in 1972

It was 20 years before someone I voted for actually won. But if I hadn't written in Frank Zappa in 1976, I would have voted for Carter.

[kwolf68]

79. 1988

Poppy Bush is who I voted for...Please don't ask.

[Stu DeBeouf]

80. Dukakis/Bentsen

Bentsen was good...why did we run Dukakis against Der Gipper our Brownshirt Skipper?...I will never know.

[Marie26]

81. Clinton!

In college & very happy to vote for a President I really believed in.