[Poll] When did you start voting?

[brainchild]

Just kinda curious about the diversity of backgrounds with respect to this topic.

Personally, I've been voting in local, state, and federal elections ever since I've legally been able to do so, as I have pretty much always felt a sense of civic duty to politically contribute to society in some way, but I have some family members/friends who are apathetic towards voting, can't vote, or refuse to vote for all sorts of reasons. I'm just wondering how many people on Era have similar attitudes/situations compared to some of my family and friends.

So, when did you start voting?

 

[How About No]

2016 Primaries

Yeah I prolly shoulda started earlier

 

[Ryuelli]

Senior year of high school, 2008 presidential election.

I've voted in every single presidential election since then, but 2018 was the first mid-term election I participated in.

 

[Deleted member 10629]

Since I was legally allowed to do so, but I think it was on 2012.

 

[echoshifting]

My first vote was in the presidential primaries of 2000, I was 19 or 20

 

[Aztechnology]

As soon as I turned 18 (Well the closest election).

I learned quickly that particular Civic duty was exceedingly important. Which is why I get so pissed at democratic voter turnout each election.

Including Midterms and local elections, because it all matters.

 

[McNum]

There was a small, not really that important, local election on my birthday when I got old enough to vote.

So of course I voted there, I mean, with that kind of timing, I more or less had to, right?

 

[turbobrick]

Once I became able to, which was the year of the 2004 presidential election.

 

[brainchild]

0 votes for the last three options is pretty impressive, I must say. I kinda expected a few troll votes, tbh *knocks on wood*

EDIT:

Well, for 2 of the last 3. For people who aren't legally allowed to vote, there's not much they can do about that.

 

[IDreamOfHime]

Here in the UK I was 17 when a new general election was called and due to take place, but just before the election it was delayed a few weeks because of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. My 18th birthday fell during this time and I was allowed to vote. Technically I shouldn't have been able to vote in a GE until I would have been nearly 23!

 

[Walter White Walker]

When I was 18 I started voting.

 

[Kevers]

I turned 18 in January of 2004 and voted that year.

 

[FaceHugger]

Not until I was in my early 20's. Four years of Bush made me realize those election things were pretty important. Unfortunately, like the rest of the world, I still had to suck ass and deal with four more afterwards.

 

[gutter_trash]

when I turned 18 and it was election year in Canada

 

[Tathanen]

Obama.

These are loaded poll options.

 

[Aztechnology]

0 votes for the last three options is pretty impressive, I must say. I kinda expected a few troll votes, tbh *knocks on wood*

EDIT:

Well, for 2 of the last 3. For people who aren't legally allowed to vote, there's not much they can do about that.

Click to shrink...

I'd say it's 2 thing probably.

1. Resetera is self selective in this regard to a degree. Generally I find people here take their civic duty fairly seriously.

2. People who don't aren't likely to come into this thread, so it's self selecting again lol.

 

[Killthee]

As soon as I could. Witnessing the disastrous Bush presidency and being unable to do anything cause I was too young to vote burned into my brain how fucking important it is to vote if you're able to do so.

 

[brainchild]

Obama.

These are loaded poll options.

Click to shrink...

Well, what can I say? I like to have fun with my polls 😂

 

[Maolfunction]

As soon as I could do it legally.

I was raised in a conservative household, the always vote Rs type of family that barely interacted with politics more than that.

Luckily for me, I got online as a teenager (and very much rejected /pol/) and started rethinking everything I grew up with so by the time I turned 18, I was already center left leaning going towards full on Marxism fast.

I credit a lot of my interest in politics with participating in mock congressional presentations and question answering competitions in high school, and got involved with some local boards involved with that after graduation.

I've faded out of doing those things as I've gotten older, but I still am very involved in staying informed and educated. And I tend to find myself disagreeing with hard lined leftists as much as I disagree with people on the right because of it, lol.

 

[the_bromo_tachi]

Don't really like the options presented on this poll but I voted on the midterm elections. I was already living overseas during the 2016 elections and I didn't mail in my absent ballot so I skipped that election. Though Jersey went to Hillary anyway. When 2018 came by, I made sure to submit it this time.

 

[poptire]

As soon as I was legally able to. Sadly I barely missed Bush/Gore, so besides local elections my first major was Bush/Kerry.

 

[djplaeskool]

Was the first presidential election after coming of age, Bush v Gore.

 

[Piggus]

Voted for the first time for Obama in 2008 when I was 19. Felt good!

 

[Lucky241]

Voted in every election since turning 18.

 

[Strike]

When I voted for Obama in 2008. I was 20.

 

[Burning Justice]

The '06 midterm election was the first election I voted in. That was right after I turned 18.

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

The Canadian federal election in 2011 when I was 18. What an election that was! RIP Jack Layton :(

 

[CreepingFear]

I tried to when I was 18, but I didn't have a license. I voted in 2004, or when I was 22. I have noted in every election since, including mid-terms.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

Turned 18 in 2008 and voted in the primaries that same year.

 

[pokeystaples]

I grew up going to polling places with my mom. As soon as I turned 18 I started voting in local elections. My first presidential election was Bush 2.

 

[lunarworks]

I voted in the first election after I turned 18, and was very excited to. I've voted every time since.

 

[Guts Of Thor]

I turned 18 in 2000 but didn't vote in that election because honestly, I didn't give a shit. Voted in 2004 after realizing my mistake and have voted ever since.

 

[Auron Kale]

I voted in the first election I could after I turned 18, which was probably the California primary in 2000. Been voting ever since then.

 

[ascii42]

I turned 18 in 2004, and have voted in every Presidential election starting with that one. I've missed a couple midterms though, and have never voted in a primary.

 

[Smokey_Run]

Turned 18 during the 2006 primaries. I was able to get registered in time to vote in the PA primaries that year. I've voted in every primary and general election for the past 12 years.

I live about 50 yards from my polling place so there is really no excuse.

 

[Stranger Things]

i've been voting in every election since i was 18 (2013)

 

[Deleted member 48434]

When I was legally required to by Australian law.

 

[Iloelemen]

When I was 18 during the Philippine Presidential elections back in 2016.

 

[Eros]

I was 18 in 2003 but I first voted for Obama.

 

[Deleted member 25600]

Voting in Australia is mandatory once you turn 18. So far I've voted in 5 federal elections. This year it will be six.

 

[Kritz]

Poll lacks an option for, "I'm not legally allowed to not vote".

That is to say, I've voted ever since I turned 18 by law. (Aus)

 

[Pau]

Voted as soon as I got my citizenship. First election was the last Democratic primary.

 

[Driggonny]

I became eligible to vote in... 2013. I did it through my driver's license so it was easy to register but I didn't actually vote until 2016. I don't know what changed, but in 2016 I got home from uni on Election Day, realized I had time to vote and just... did it. Voted last year too and will continue. I guess Trump shook me

 

[Deleted member 9241]

Since I turned 18 in 1993. I've always voted. It's weird because my parents were never political. It's not like they told me to. I just... did.

 

[Bakercat]

Didnt vote in the first election after legal age, but the election afterwards and thereafter i have made the effort to vote.

 

[elektrixx]

Australia, 31 and never voted. There's more to it, but the long story short is I honestly don't care.

 

[game-biz]

31 now. The first time I voted was last year, Cali resident. It's only been recently since I've made an effort to educate myself, at least a little bit. Better late then never.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

My mom and dad reminded me of what life was like for us trying to vote in America for their parents in the 30's and 40's. Then they reminded me of the spit, broken bottles, trash, obscenities hurled at them for having the temerity to protest for their rights.

I voted in the first eligible election after I turned 18. It'd be shameful to disrespect those that suffered before me by disregarding what they fought for.

 

[Wood Man]

Shamefully I didn't vote the first time I was able to in 2000. My first time was the 2004 election.

 

[skeptem]

Every election including midterms since 2008 when I was first able to vote.