# What was your first election, who did you first vote for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471 "2004-08-05T16:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/41 "2004-08-06T00:35:20Z")
2000, Bush. It was fun to be one of the thousands of West Virginians to utterly SHOCK the Demmies that year. “West Virginia? But they ALWAYS vote for us, what the hell happened?!?!” Kerry has been here about 4 times so far. (Bush, too, now that I think about it.) ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/42 "2004-08-06T00:40:32Z")
I turned 18 in 1972. Voted for McGovern in the primary and the general election. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/43 "2004-08-06T01:45:20Z")
I’ll be voting this November, and sure as hell not for Bush, but reasons don’t need to be discussed here. I haven’t decided if I’m going to apply for an absentee ballot or not; when does one do that? Am I too late? ---
**Author:** ![electrozion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85f322/32.png) [@electrozion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/electrozion)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/44 "2004-08-06T02:22:17Z")
in december 2, 1990, the 1st parlimentary election in newly reunified Germany i voted for the Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS - the former SED of eastern Germany. I did not vote for this fools because of admiration of their politics but to embarass the rural western german small town community I was living in at the time. I have not voted for them since and would like to not have voted at all ever since. “If voting changed anything it wouldn’t be legal”. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/45 "2004-08-06T02:25:43Z")
I turned 18 in 2000, and voted for Nader. I got a few death threats for that one on Wednesday morning, but I figure that since I’m a progressive in an overwhelmingly conservative state, my had no effect on that particular debacle. That wasn’t my first election, though. In 1988, my first-grade class did a mock presidential election. I voted for Dukakis, because I liked his tie. I like to think I’m a better decision-maker now. (And no, I will NOT be voting for Nader again. I find him particularly buttheaded as of late.) ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/46 "2004-08-06T02:28:40Z")
> [@LeeshaJoy](#): > > …but I figure that since I’m a progressive in an overwhelmingly conservative state, my had no effect on that particular debacle. My VOTE had no effect on that particular debacle. I did preview, I just didn’t actually read the damn thing when I previewed it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/47 "2004-08-06T02:30:35Z")
In '92 knowing absolutely nothing about politics, I voted for Perot because he wasn’t a Repulican or Democrat. Now, after paying much more attention to politics, I still refuse to vote for either of the major parties. Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered paying attention… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/48 "2004-08-06T02:31:41Z")
'84, Reagan. I was 18 and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/49 "2004-08-06T03:26:20Z")
I claim the geezer recognition award so far. I voted for Lyndon Johnson in 1964. You will recall that 21 was the nearly universal voting and drinking age back then. If 18 year olds could have voted I would have voted for John Kennedy in 1960. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/50 "2004-08-06T03:37:40Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > '84, Reagan. I was 18 and stupid. BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/51 "2004-08-06T03:41:49Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > I’ll be voting this November, and sure as hell not for Bush, but reasons don’t need to be discussed here. I haven’t decided if I’m going to apply for an absentee ballot or not; when does one do that? Am I too late? I’m assuming it dones’t vary by district or anything - on the back of my application it says that “The application must be recieved by the County Clerk not later than 7 days prior to the election unless you apply in person or if sick or confined via authorized messenger during County Clerk’s office hours to 3 P.M. the day prior to the election.” Basically, I think that you’ve got up until a week or so before the election to request one. [PSA] Do it. It’ll take maybe five minutes, total. Some places let you request them online, IIRC, and it’s definitely worth it. Not being in your home district is not an excuse for neglecting your duty as an American. [/PSA] ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/52 "2004-08-06T04:04:19Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > [PSA] > Do it. It’ll take maybe five minutes, total. Some places let you request them online, IIRC, and it’s definitely worth it. Not being in your home district is not an excuse for neglecting your duty as an American. > [/PSA] Don’t worry, I’ll be voting whether it’s absentee or not. I’ll be at college, but for me, that’s only a half hour at most away from home. I’m not one to promote cutting class, but I think voting is an acceptable excuse. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/53 "2004-08-06T04:24:35Z")
Back on topic, 1980 was my first presidential election and I happily voted for Ronald Reagan. (And I’d vote for him again today! Oh, wait…) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/54 "2004-08-06T04:48:55Z")
I was old enough to vote in 1944 (FDR-Tom Dewey) but was in the army and didn’t having not registered in Iowa. First time, 1948 (Truman-Dewey) in Iowa City. Picked Dewey and could have had a winner if Truman hadn’t gotten more votes. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/55 "2004-08-06T07:06:37Z")
I turned 18 in 1985 and first voted, for Bush/Quayle, in the presidential election of 1988. I am very, very sorry for this. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/56 "2004-08-06T08:04:15Z")
Turned 18 in 2000 and voted for Gore. Turning 22 this year and probably gonna vote for Kerry. If I get really disgusted with everything before November, I may just vote for Cobb. But I can’t help feel like that’s a waste of a perfectly good vote. MPSIMS: I thought Nader was full of shit in '96. I thought he was full of shit in '00. This year, I really feel like he’s made a fool of himself and proven to the world at large that he is indeed full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/57 "2004-08-06T12:19:54Z")
I just knew that **David Simmons** would show up to claim the geezer prize. At least we both cast our first presidential vote in Iowa City. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/58 "2004-08-06T13:21:12Z")
Ah, memories… I missed the '92 elections by a year due to my age. But the next general election in '96 got a friend and I all fired up to participate. ::squiggly lines:: It was the in the wee hours of the morning (about 2 am) when Bob Dole rolled into Independence, MO (home of Harry Truman and my home town) for a stop to rally with the Republicans on his way home to Russell, KS. He called this campaign his “96 Hours to Victory” tour. After discussing the possibilities of showing our support at this rally with my best friend the previous evening, we decided that it was our duty to go. I set out to make a home made sign with posterboard and red and blue acrylic paint. Jump ahead to the wee hours… We park a few blocks away from the designated meeting place (in front of the bronze statue of good ole Harry Truman, himself) and join the crowd of people walking up to the square. I had my sign rolled up in my hand. Upon entering the square, everyone was given little American flags to wave. My friend and I settled in toward the back of the crowd, and waited for Dole to come out on the stage they had set up in front of Harry. Tina Turner was blasting out of the huge sound system. To the rear of the mass of people, a long line of national and local cameras were set up and waiting for the show to begin. The music died down, Dole walked out. The people cheered. When Dole started talking about his campaign, I quietly unrolled my sign and raised it above my head with both hands. One one side it read: **96 Hours to Retirement THANK GOD!** The other side read: \*\*The Road to Hell is Paved with REPUBLICANS \*\* It took a full minute before I got any flack from the people around me. But when they did, boy howdy! I was screamed at, called bad names and even smacked with the little American flags. The republicans tried to take my sign away, but I did well & kept it up, shouting that I was merely excersizing my right to free speech. :: squiggly lines:: Tonight, I will be attending a rally at KC’s Union Station to show my full support for John Kerry. No home made signs will be required this time. But if Bush shows up… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/59 "2004-08-06T14:58:57Z")
1980 - Ronald Reagan Any damage Nixon did to the Republican Party was wiped out by four years of Carter. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471/60 "2004-08-06T15:18:24Z")
2000—Al Gore. I turned eighteen in 2000 but waited until the Presidential elections in November to vote. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-first-election-who-did-you-first-vote-for/258471.md?page=4)