In what year did you first vote?

For me, it was 1968. I was 21, and voted for the Pizza & Freedom candidate, Eugene McCarthy.

Also on the ballot:

Ricardo Nixton
Hoobert Humperdinker

Now I’m wondering if a revived RFK would have defeeted Ricco Nixious.

My first election was in 1976, the year I turned 18. I voted for Jimmy Carter. That’s all I remember about the ballot.

@chyna

My guess is that Gerald Ford was also on the ballot.

I first voted in 1972, for McGovern. A dramatic exercise in futility.

1968

1984 and I was feeling old until I saw the other answers.

2019, it was April, and like 5 months after I turned 18.
And I do not remember. I think it was a local vote for town leadership, and all of the options only had one person.

@SQUEEKY2, does my answer change that?

1974; I had turned 18 the year before. Voted in the June 74 primary, but the local Republican, Robert Lagomarsino, had a lock on the district.

I voted for Carter over Ford in 1976. I voted for Reagan in 1980, but regretted it right after I pulled the handle in the voting booth.

@SQUEEKY2

Wasn’t Brian Mulroney on the 1984 ballot?

I turned 18 in 1984 so I see Reagan was in office from 81 to 89. I probably didn’t vote for Reagan.

2000 Gore. I don’t remember who else was on my ballot, I most likely voted for all of the Democrats.

I turned 18 way before that, but I just didn’t bother to vote. Since 2000 I’m pretty sure I have voted in every election including the midterms and primaries. If I missed one I’m not remembering it.

First time was local elections in 1973. I was too young to vote in the 1972 election.

1996

1989 shortly after I turned 18. I have no idea who was on the ballot.

1992 – Clinton/Gore
Opponents were Bush and Perot

I was so nervous and felt foolish because I had no clue how to vote, I mean literally how.

Carter. The instant I could. The hippies fought too damn hard to get the voting age lowered to 18, to look that gift horse in the mouth.
Never missed a vote since.

1976. Jimmy Carter.

Age survey, eh? @Brian1946, my answer is exactly the same as yours, except for the spelling.

1977.

@zenvelo

“I voted for Reagan in 1980, but regretted it right after I pulled the handle in the voting booth.”

I’m intrigued by how quickly that happened.

Was it something you suddenly remembered about him, or something else?

About the only other thing I can imagine would be if you meant to vote for Carter, but voted for Reagan instead. However, I’m guessing it wasn’t that.

I don’t recall any of the smaller elections that I voted in, but I have voted in every election that I could since I turned 18 in 1981.

I turned 18 in 1981, but Reagan had already been voted in by 1980 : (
I would have voted for Carter if I had been 18.

In the 1984 primary, I voted for Jesse Jackson, then when he didn’t become the Democratic nominee, I voted for Mondale, who was running against Reagan. Mondale’s running mate was the first female Vice Presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro.

@Kardamom

Thanks for your comprehensive recollection! :-)

When Obama appeared out of nowhere in 2006 (?) Rick and I had some pretty spirited discussions. He was all for Obama but he likes debates.
After several days I said “Are you even registered to vote?!?”
Pause, then he said “No.”
I said “I’m not having any more political fights with you unless you get registered!”
He was registered the next day. :D

The first year that I was eligible.

‘69 when I was 18.

What a rockin year @gondwanalon!

1982. No clue who was running locally. I remember being thrilled to order my absentee ballot to be sent to me at college.

1982 – same. Don’t remember who or what I voted for.