1990 (before it was cool) Bernie Sanders for Congress.
1992, for Bill Clinton. The elections in 1990 (Bob Clement for TN-05, Al Gore for Senate, Ned McWherter for Governor) and 1991 (probably Betty Nixon for Nashville mayor) weren’t competitive enough for me to bother to find a ride from my dorm room to my polling station. (I had a car by 1992.)
- Carter.
2000 general. POTUS: Harry Browne. U.S. Senate: Paul Sarbanes. U.S. Rep: Wayne Gilchrest. Circuit Court judge: Theodore Eschenburg. There were a couple weird state ballot questions about local elections and property in far away counties I don’t think I voted for or against.
1997, Major.
This is not actually a debate about elections or an election.
Moving to MPSIMS.
Mine was the 2002 midterms, and I don’t remember who I voted for, offhand, except that I voted Democratic.
1980, Reagan. My preference for conservatives was set in stone early. I’ve never voted for the left side of any ticket in my life (although I sometimes wander over to the Libertarians).
The first presidential election would have been 1972, voted for Nixon.
I’m quite sure there were local elections and a federal election before then, but I don’t remember who got my vote in them.
John Kerry 2004.
It was in a school budget vote in 1971, about a month after the voting age was lowered. The budget had failed twice before (the second vote was the day after the 26th Amendment was passes, but you had to register a few days before the vote, so even though I was eligible to vote, I hadn’t been eligible to register).
My first federal election was an absentee ballot for George McGovern. I wasn’t a big fan, but there was no way in hell I’d have voted for Nixon.
'72 - Nixon, because my dad was voting for him. I didn’t really pay much attention to politics till I was in my 30s, and now, alas, I pay too much attention and it makes me crazy!
FWIW, I’m not affiliated with any party, tho I do tend to lean toward the left. I don’t think either side has all the answers, but apparently cooperation has become a dirty word…
1976, for Ford, but I voted for Reagan in the primary.
I remember registering to vote in 1987 a few weeks before the off-year election when only local offices were up for grabs. I don’t remember if I actually voted that year. I definitely voted in 1988: George H. W. Bush for president, Judd Greg for governor, and (I don’t know why I remember this) against a proposal to change the wording of the state constitution in some minor way.
My first election was an off year but I got to vote for my Mom who was running for a local office and ended up losing by one vote (yeah it happens).
- I voted for Gerald Ford. I was a moderate Republican, after all.
[sub]In my heart of hearts I still am a moderate Republican. But all the Republicans I meet tell me I’m a liberal socialist Democrat. I didn’t leave the party, the party left me.[/sub]
I think the first election I voted in would have been the 1993 Canadian federal election. I’m not sure who I voted for – maybe Georgette Sheridan (Liberal)?
2000; voted Bush.
It was the first and last time I voted for a Republican.
I voted for James Garfield, but got stuck with that prick-a-lick Chester A. Arthur. Kinda soured me.
1992, voted for Bill Clinton. 1996, voted third party. Have voted or tried to vote in every presidential election since, and have voted in every midterm election since 2010.