What's your first memory of voting?

[nemo137]

I was, or at least used to be, one of the younger ones on DU. The first election I got to vote in was the 2004 general, I was a senior in high school, had just turned 18, and on election day I went to St. Peter's Cathedral in Rockford, IL, got my ballot and went to my little booth in the gym to fill it out. Got in my car, put my "I Voted" sticker on my Kerry-Edwards button (which had just enough space for it), and went to school. Watched the election results with my friends and my econ teacher. The next day, I woke up, found out that Blackwell had given Ohio to Bush with a bow on it, and wore my Kerry-Edwards button to school, this time with a button next to it that said "Don't let the bastards grind you down" next to it.

What's your first memory of voting, DU?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. In the US or Mexico?

In mexico I was 18, and well voted for the PRI. We went camping so we took time to go vote...

In the US, 2000 was my first election, after becoming a citizen. Line out the whazoo, of course first time to register, so they asked for ID, I get it...

[nemo137]

3. I'm sure the line was terrible.

God, I think I'd frame my sticker after the first time I voted after become a citizen (as a matter of fact, I know I've got mine in a box somewhere...)

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Both had lines

but you know what? It was much more fun down there. Here nobody talks to anybody. Down there it is a PARTY... then again it is a DAY OFF. And down there it is a civic duty, drilled on since you are a kid. So people talk, share food if they have it. talk about things... here... stone faced people...

[nemo137]

31. That sounds awesome.

I voted early in 2008, and it took about 2 hours. I played tetris on my phone and talked about the weather with the people around me. We're Midwesterners. This is actually what we talk about.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Town Hall. I was 18. I voted for my Dad for town selectman. He didn't win but I was thrilled anyway

[nemo137]

4. That's so cool.

I really can't express how neat that is. Thank you for sharing that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. It really was. And he was running for the Legislature this time around but

unfortunately he passed away in April. :( I really wish he could have been here to at least see how he would have done.

[nemo137]

13. Your father sounds like an interesting man.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. He was the best & I really miss him. Thanks for your sympathy. :^)

[amerikat]

5. 1960 I was 5 years old.

my dad campaigned for Kennedy. maybe that made a me a political junkie.
Oh.....and we won.

[nemo137]

9. I remember my mom having a button that said "No Scabs"

during the run-up to a teachers' strike. I think it's good for kids to have some early exposure to politics. On the other hand, maybe all it does it drive us to DU. Thank you for sharing that story.

[EFerrari]

25. My mom campaigned for Kennedy, too, and the next day she let me play

with the left over campaign literature. I was four and still remember that she let me jump on the couches that morning.

lol

[nickinSTL]

29. First voting experience for me, I must have been 3

my mom took me with her when she went to vote in the 1976 election - at least, that's what I think I'm remembering.

Don't remember a lot, but I'm guessing she voted for Carter in that election. :)

[nemo137]

35. I used to love voting with my mom.

All these very serious adults. The booths. The fact that it was the only time kindergarten-me saw adults get stickers for doing something good. Looking back, it was wild.

[clyrc]

6. I stood in line in a chilly wind at Oklahoma State University to vote

I voted straight ticket Dem, with Clinton at the top of the ticket. I was 22,in 1992, and it was the first time, but not the last time, that I was so emotionally touched to be voting that I cried. I remember watching the election returns and feeling so good, so hopeful and enthusiastic. I was lucky, I guess, because it would be a long time before I would be so happy about election returns again.

[Denninmi]

8. 1984. Mondale/Ferraro.

I was a student at Michigan State. Geraldine Ferraro held a rally on a Sunday afternoon in very late October, can't remember if it was just 2 days before the election or maybe the week before that. At any rate, I think everyone knew by then they weren't going to win, but it was still an "electric" moment. Something like 50,000 people showed up, it was enormous. Also, the first time I heard of Deb Stabenow, who was a new State Rep at that time. Carl Levin was there as well. Voted right there on campus, since I registered in East Lansing.

[nemo137]

19. So you knew Stabenow before she was famous?

Bragging rights, that is.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. A 1988 throwaway vote. In fact, so throwaway, I hardly remember it.

1992, now that was memorable.

[nemo137]

28. I have very, very vague memories of the 1988 election

We lived in MA at the time, and my parents at that point were both Dems. I remember thinking that Dukakis was a funny name. 1992, I remember we talked about the election, in super general terms, in kindergarten.

[devereaux]

12. Voting for Gore over Bush

Freshman year of college at the University of Wisconsin....woke up early to vote in the basement of Gordon Commons.

Gore was a 10th level Vice President...one of the easiest choices I ever made.

[nemo137]

17. I was in 7th grade.

I remember being so mad I almost cried with the SCOTUS gave the election to Bush. Gore was clearly the right choice there. If only, you know?

[aikoaiko]

14. My first vote was when I was 18, but I had my 3 year old son push the Obama button for me in 2008.

His first vote.

[nemo137]

36. I'm sure he'll remember it.

It was good of you to let him do that.

[aikoaiko]

46. If he doesn't remember, I'll tell him the story over and over until its implanted. :-)

;)

[nemo137]

49. That's what dads do.

[RayOfHope]

15. My first time was with Bill Clinton, lol. I was in college, and it started snowing as I walked

to the courthouse on the square to vote. It was my first election, and a presidential election at that. I felt so grown up :)

[nemo137]

37. You and I are lucky our birthdays fall like that.

Our first vote gets to be for president. That's so cool.

[vixengrl]

16. This is ignominious, but I cast a protest vote

for Barbara Hafer over Bob Casey (Sr, I have since voted Bob Casey, Jr.) because I was unabashedly pro-choice, and I knew he'd win, but...I had some weird idea that just pulling a lever for her would register as a pro-woman vote. And I didn't think she was especially conservative--and she isn't. I made it up two years later voting for Bill Clinton--I think. And I have not voted Republican since.

[BadgerKid]

18. Turned away

from a line on a university campus because I arrived after the "end of the line" had been designated, although there were probably 50 to 100 students still standing outside the door. I questioned them about it, but I had no knowledge of any recourse.

[nemo137]

21. I'm sorry to hear that.

I know at least at U of I, at least in 2008, the college Dems were on the look out for any potential disenfranchisement. I think that's one of the best things for college dem groups to do.

[devereaux]

22. Did this happen in Madison? n/t

[BadgerKid]

52. Yes. n/t

[devereaux]

54. I'm surprised

The College Democrats, like someone said earlier, typically made sure that everyone that showed up to vote could vote.

[AmandaMae]

23. I'm 19 and today was my first time voting.

[Luciferous]

26. :)

[EFerrari]

32. Welcome to DU, AmandaMae!

:hi:

[nemo137]

33. Congratulations!

[Luciferous]

24. The first election I voted in was also the 2004 general (just down the road from you in Byron)

I could have cared less about politics before that, but I couldn't stand the thought of Bush being President for 4 more years. I remember waking up the next day and being devastated because I honestly believed that Bush would lose.

[nemo137]

34. It was a nail-biter, but I went to bed hopeful.

And, again, wore an appropriate button the next day.

Good to hear from someone else from NoIL. There are a couple of us on here (I think a few more from Rockford and a few from Ogle. Good to hear from you).

[shanti]

27. i remember voting for jerry brown in 1974

my first election. wore a button and everything :)

[nemo137]

38. Were you able to vote for him again?

You should have worn the old button, if you still have it.

[Johonny]

30. I voted for Al Demato

then I went to college. I haven't vote Republican since. The more I learned the less I wanted to be a conservative.

[nemo137]

39. I imagine it's that way for many people.

[Stinky The Clown]

40. My oldest memory of voting goes to 1956

Standing in an old lever machine booth with an oddly pleasant musty smell to the barkcloth curtain while Dad voted and I got to pull the last lever That actually cast the votes

[nemo137]

41. I don't think I've ever seen an actual lever machine.

Which tells you something about my age. I'm glad your father took you with him to vote.

[Vidar]

42. I wrote in Jerry Brown for president in 1976, and I'm very proud of him tonight.

[nemo137]

44. I look forward to being able to see politicians I admired when I and they were both young

do good things when we've both got a few more years on us.

[slackmaster]

43. My first vote was for Jimmy Carter in the 1976 California Democratic primary

:hi:

[nemo137]

45. My guy dropped out in my first primary

between me filling out my ballot and the actual election. Glad you got to back a winner.

[Norrin Radd]

47. I voted "yes" on the Trix Rabbit.

[nemo137]

50. I don't get the joke.

I'm sorry.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

48. 1966 - Jesse Unruh for governor of California

[nemo137]

51. Ach, jeez. And I thought I lived in interesting times.

That sounds like a vote to be proud of.

[XOKCowboy]

53. 1972 - 18 yrs old and voted against Nixon

even though it was just a year earlier he'd given me the right to vote at 18. Bless him.

This is not to say that McGovern wasn't a good candidate but my first vote was anybody but Nixon.

[marmar]

55. Clinton 1992

And despite my diminished admirations for Bill Clinton post-presidency, I still remember the excitement of that period.

[GoCubsGo]

56. Jimmy Carter, 1980

I don't remember actually voting, but I do remember walking back home that night with my younger sister, who also cast her first vote that year. The polling place was a couple of blocks away at the grade school where I went to kindergarten.

I also remember going to class the next day, and one of the women in my class was sitting at her desk, holding her head, saying, "I cannot believe Reagan won. What the hell is the matter with people?"

[BlueIris]

57. 1998; college dorm room w/Oregon mail-in ballot. Struggling to decide

on our "unseal the state adoption records or not" measure of that year (I couldn't reach what I thought was a fair vote, so that's one of the only measures I've ever passed on making a decision about.)

[Kennah]

58. I remember

It was 1986, I was 19 years old, and still living at home in Maryland where I grew up (umm, well, you know).

Voted for Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Rep. Steny Hoyer, and Gov. William Donald Schaefer that I remember. Also probably voted for the incumbent Democratic State Senator and State Assembly Members.

I was pretty friggin' clueless at the time. I think the decision was based on this:
- I knew my parents were Democrats and would vote the Democratic Party ticket
- Nothing was exploding at the time so I figured I would keep the Democrats in charge

The voting machines were lever machines with the big ol' red lever, the small levers to make your selections, and the curtain.

[Bluenorthwest]

59. In my Dad's arms, making black ink X's for Democrats...

Why Democrats? Because the Democrats are for the working people.
Let's say early 60's. Way early.

[trackfan]

60. 1978 general election. I voted for Jerry Brown for Governor then, just

as I did in yesterday's election.

[Gaedel]

61. 1952

I was thirteen. My father listened to both conventions on the radio and I sat there with him.

In Intermediate School (7-8 grades) in Detroit, we had a "mock election" with the paper ballots and voting booths a couple of days before the real election.

The Michigan ballot was like a bedsheet. It began with Pres-VP and went down through the governor, all the members of the state cabinet, US senator, US rep, state sen, state rep, and all of the county offices down to the drain commissioner. Then it had to be wide enough to have a column for all of the parties running for any office on the list. As I remember, we had the Dem, GOP, Progressive (Harry Wallace's old bunch), Prohibition, Amrican Vegetarian, Socialist Workers, and Socialist Labor.

We voted, making sure our "X" crossed in the square. We carefully folded our ballots according to instructions, and turned back the perforated corner with the ballot number on it. We then tore off the corner and gave it to the poll watcher as we put the ballot in the ballot box.

A group of students counted the ballots and recorded the results which were posted on the bulletin board. Even though the school was in blue collar, UAW Detroit, Eisenhower won for president, though the other races went "D" in the school.

Later on election day, my father and I were outside around 6pm and our neighbor came home. He was the head of the "flying squad" of one of the UAW locals. My father said "hey, I thought you would be out late tonight on the election.". Our neighbor said, "Ike is so far in front, we just gave up."