- Which I think should be in the first category, since it was the first Presidential election I was old enough to vote in.
Age 20 in 1980, voted for Reagan because Carter had just reinstated draft registration. I’ve voted Democrat ever since then.
My first trip to the polls was when I was 21, 1976 and I voted for Jimmy Carter. The next time I was at polls was 2012. I did however vote absentee ballot for EVERY election held in Wisconsin in between. 1976 was also the only time I voted democratic OR republican in an election where there was another choice. I’m often told I have wasted my vote to which I always reply " But at least I can feel good about my choice."
I was 17 for the 1992 elections, so I missed those. I was overseas for the 1996 elections and traveling a lot, and the election was not a priority for me, so I missed that one, too. I was also overseas for 2000, but this time I was settled and took the time to vote. So, 25 years old. The first time I voted, though, was in 1994, I believe, but it wasn’t a presidential election, obviously.
I was in the 18-20 group for my first election, in 1976. That was the first one in which that age group could vote. Otherwise, I would have had to wait until 1980.
I was going to school out of state the first time a presidential election same 'round when I was over 18, and it didn’t seem important to vote in either state as they were not particularly contested so I didn’t make an effort to either get an absentee ballot or register in the state I was going to school. I’ve voted in every presidential general election since then.
I was 22, as the amendment lowering the voting age to 18 was not in effect when I was 18. I felt cheated that my 18 year old sister got to vote for the first time when I did.
I turned 20 October 31, 1980 and voted for Ronald Reagan on November 4th. First POTUS election I could vote in, but not the first election over all:
I turned 18 on 10/31/78 and a mere week later I voted for Jim Sensenbrenner for Congress and Lee Dryfus for Governor. I was a senior in high school.
I was 18 in 1972. I think that was the first year 18 year olds could vote. I voted for McGovern. I have voted in every election since, including primaries.
- In 1988.
That’s just how the math worked out.
As F/T undergrad I was still legally domiciled in Puerto Rico. So it was not until age 23 that I could throw away a vote on Mondale.
Twenty years old in 1980 and voted for Ronald Reagan.
I turned 18 in January of '72 and voted that November. Haven’t missed a Prez election since, tho I’ve skipped some lesser and mid-term elections. I’m not party-affiliated, so I can’t vote in primaries.
1972 and I was 20 when I voted for Nixon over McGovern. Much like 2016, I wasn’t fond of Nixon, but I didn’t think McGovern was capable of doing the job (I’m planning on voting for Hillary).
Since then it has been pretty steadily Democratic.
21, 1972, McGovern. First POTUS vote I was eligible for. Straight Democratic voter ever since, although I was tempted to vote for John Anderson in 1980.
First presidential election in which I voted: 1976, at age 22. My 18th birthday was three days too late for the McGovern-Nixon election in '72; I was seriously bummed out over that.
At least two people who are participating in this message board who have never voted. Assuming they’re not living in someplace with no voting, that’s pretty amazing. Why would they care about politics and not vote?
One can always pick the lesser of two evils or vote for a write-in or minor party candidate one likes.
And not all elections are presidential. Local town board, county and school board elections are highly important to the way people live and pay taxes every day. My school taxes make up some 70% of what I pay for property taxes.
Half of the sales tax I pay goes to my county.
I like the snow plowed off of my street. We get to vote for highway superintendent every four years.
etc etc.
I turned 18 in 1974, so my first vote in a Presidential election came in 1976. I voted for Jimmy Carter because I thought he was a good man. I still do. I just wish he’d been a better president. I’m proud to say that I have voted in every Presidential election since.
21, because I was 17 during the previous election cycle.
21-30. Would have been earlier, but there wasn’t a presidential election when I was 18-20. Haven’t ever missed one since.