For those living in the United States, what's the earliest presidential election that you can recall? What's the first presidential election that you actually voted in?

The earliest presidential election I can remember was the 2000 presidential election. I was nine years old that year, and I remember seeing Bush and Gore debating each other on television. Of course, everything being said was beyond my comprehension at the time.

I also remember all the controversy over that election. I specifically remember hearing about Florida, and recounting the votes, but, of course, I didn't really understand what was going on in-depth.

The first presidential election that I actually paid attention to was the 2004 race between Bush and Kerry. I remember seeing political ads for the first time on television, and some fun little presidential election commercial on Nickelodeon.

I have yet to vote in a presidential election, but I did vote in the 2010 midterms, and that was my very first time voting. The very first presidential election I will vote in will be the one in 2012.

I remember Ronald Reagan winning but I don't remember the race.  That's my earliest political memory.

1960 Kennedy/Nixon

I remember seeing ford on tv. I remember Carters inauguration.
The first election I was aware of was probably mondale /Ferraro vs regan/bush

The first presidential election I can remember is that of 1988, when Bush Sr. was elected. I was 8 years old at the time and didn't understand politics well, but I did know a little bit about the two main candidates.

The first time I voted in one: 2000.

I actually slightly remember the 1992 election I was only 5 years old at the time, well one thing I certainly remember was my parents going to vote and walking to the polling place with them which was my preschool. I remember the '96 election pretty well and I really followed the 2000 election (watched all the debates and stuff). I remember Gore talking about keeping social security in a "lock box" or something rofl and the idiot Bush saying he was against "nation building"...sure.  ::) I remember Bush said Gore's numbers were "fuzzy math".  ;D I first voted for president in 2008 and first time voting was in 2006 midterms.

The earliest I remember is the 1996 presidential election which Bill Clinton won! I was 7 going on 8 at the time.

The first presidential election I remember, although the memory is vague, was the 1968 election.  I remember liking Hubert Humphrey and being unhappy after Nixon won.  Since I was just eight, it was all a bit over my head.  I got a lot more interested in the 1972 election, and recall that my eighth grade class had a vote on who we liked.  George McGovern wasn't as compelling as Humphrey, but again I was disappointed with the outcome.  The 1976 election was a different animal - at sixteen I still couldn't vote, but this time I was happy with the outcome (even though I didn't detest Ford nearly as much as Nixon).

The first presidential election I could vote in was in 1980.  I was extremely unhappy with the outcome then. :(

(Incidentally, my political preferences have changed since my early youth.)

For those living in the United States, what's the earliest presidential election that you can recall? What's the first presidential election that you actually voted in?

The earliest presidential election I can remember was the 2000 presidential election. I was nine years old that year, and I remember seeing Bush and Gore debating each other on television. Of course, everything being said was beyong my comprehension at the time.

I also remember all the controversy over that election. I specifically remember hearing about Florida, and recounting the votes, but, of course, I didn't really understand what was going on in-depth.

The first presidential election that I actually paid attention to was the 2004 race between Bush and Kerry. I remember seeing political ads for the first time on television, and some fun little presidential election commercial on Nickelodeon.

I have yet to vote in a presidential election, but I did vote in the 2010 midterms, and that was my very first time voting. The very first presidential election I will vote in will be the one in 2012.


Dude we must be close to the same age. That's the first election i remember too

I actually slightly remember the 1992 election I was only 5 years old at the time, well one thing I certainly remember was my parents going to vote and walking to the polling place with them which was my preschool. I remember the '96 election pretty well and I really followed the 2000 election (watched all the debates and stuff). I remember Gore talking about keeping social security in a "lock box" or something rofl and the idiot Bush saying he was against "nation building"...sure.  ::) I remember Bush said Gore's numbers were "fuzzy math".  ;D I first voted for president in 2008 and first time voting was in 2006 midterms.


Same here, but change it to age 7 ;).

I will be dating myself again here but oh well. The first one I remember was 1972 (Nixon/McGovern). I was in 4th grade and we had a mock election. (Yeah, I voted for Tricky Dicky.  :-
I remember Carters inauguration.



I was living in the D.C. area at the time. I thought it would be cool to go see him walking down Pennsylvania Avenue but it would have been more than cool-it would have been COLD!!!! It was January after all. Besides, I was living with my dad at the time and there was no way in hell he was going to go and stand out there in the cold.



Cat

I remember a little bit about the 1988 Presidential Election because some kid in my 3rd grade class was mentiong Dukakis vs Bush(H.W.)

The first presidential election I remember clearly was the 2000 election.

The first presidential I voted in was the 2004 presidential election.

I guess it would be Carter, I had to make a diorama of a voting booth for school (I used a shoe box and a Barbie doll  ;D)

For me it would be the 1980 Regan Vs. Carter race. I was 9 at the time.

The first time I voted was in the 1996 Clinton Vs. Dole.

I remember a little bit about the 1988 Presidential Election because some kid in my 3rd grade class was mentiong Dukakis vs Bush(H.W.)


You must be about the same age as me, since I was also in 3rd grade at the time. We even discussed it in school, too. Can't remember if we had a "mock election", though.

Ford versus Carter.  I didn't understand any of the issues.  I knew Ford was a Republican, Carter was a Democrat, and my old man thought they were both "bozos," oh, and something else about "Watergate"!
::)

At age nine, I vaguely recall my father had on Nixon's win in '72 and was curious about his interest in balloons and banners and big people yakking incessant gibberish that appeared to be more important than the Dolphins' streak for some unbeknownst crazy reason. At age 29 today  ;) I feel similarly every four years.

I also slightly remember the 1992 election that Clinton won, but I don't count it because it's so blurry to me.

The last election between Clinton and Dole. I wanted Dole to win cuz thats how my parents were... Anti-Clinton lol. The first one I really payed attention to though with an open mind was 2008. What an election! It was soooo crazy!

The earliest presidential election that I can recall would have to be the three candidate race of 1992 when I was in the second grade. My parents are avowed conservatives so they voted for Bush Sr.  I can recall Dan Quayle not knowing the correct way to spell potato, and ripping on Murphy Brown even though she was a fictional TV character. ;D  My mom came into my room and woke me up on election night to tell me that we had a new president and his name was Bill Clinton.  A short biography of new First Lady Hillary circulated in our school library shortly thereafter.

Bush.

The first one, not Mr. 'Strategery'.

I think I was 5 or 6 at the time.

  I remember when Carter was elected, but not in any detail.  He seemed, to me, like a "friendly old dude", kinda like my grandfather...

  First presidential election I voted in was in 1988, by absentee military ballot as I was in the North Atlantic at the time. Repub and Dem nominees were Bush Sr. and Mike Dukakis...

 
   First presidential election I voted in was in 1988, by absentee military ballot as I was in the North Atlantic at the time. Repub and Dem nominees were Bush Sr. and Mike Dukakis...



That was actually my first presidential election that I voted in, too. I was too young in the '80 election (but voted in a mock election-for John Anderson. WHO??  :o :o :o He was a third party candidate with Reagan & Carter. I didn't vote in the '84 election because I couldn't get to the polls that day.  :-[ So, '88 was my first. Yeah, I voted for Daddy Bush.  :-[  Yup-I was a Republican in those days.  :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

I have since seen the light.  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D



Cat

That was actually my first presidential election that I voted in, too. I was too young in the '80 election (but voted in a mock election-for John Anderson. WHO??  :o :o :o He was a third party candidate with Reagan & Carter. I didn't vote in the '84 election because I couldn't get to the polls that day.  :-[ So, '88 was my first. Yeah, I voted for Daddy Bush.  :-[  Yup-I was a Republican in those days.  :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

I have since seen the light.  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D



Cat


  Jon Anderson of Yes?  Woulda had my vote, too.  As you did, I voted for pops Bush.  I didn't like Dukakis' eyebrows...

  Seen the light, Cat?  Don't say that, it makes people nervous!  Heaven's Gate saw the light and look what happened to them..!  :P

I retract my statement. I didn't know that Bush was elected in 1988. I thought he went in later than that. I was only 2 then.

I was 6 in 1992 and therefore the first presidential election I remember is Clinton. I miss Clinton.

   Jon Anderson of Yes?  Woulda had my vote, too.  As you did, I voted for pops Bush.  I didn't like Dukakis' eyebrows...

   Seen the light, Cat?  Don't say that, it makes people nervous!  Heaven's Gate saw the light and look what happened to them..!  :P



Different John Anderson.  ;)


Ok, I didn't "See the light" - I learned the error of my ways. (Any better?  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D )



Cat

Ok, I didn't "See the light" - I learned the error of my ways. (Any better?  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D )


Here, let me help.

High road: Jeff Healey, See the Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d95YFdubGrU

Low road: Happy 100th Birthday!  Ronald Reagan, See the Light, Feel the Heat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ficfJbvwc

Does that help?  (Or should I just ask the guys who do the web design about their new electric applesauce mix?  Way more fun way to go than drinking the Flavor-Kool-Aid!)

That was actually my first presidential election that I voted in, too. I was too young in the '80 election (but voted in a mock election-for John Anderson. WHO?? 


I remember John B. Anderson!  Conservative Republican state rep from Illinois who gained a surprising amount of support from progressives.  A lot of people who voted for Jerry Brown in the primaries voted for Anderson in the general election.  He got 7% of the vote.

http://recollections.liblog.wheaton.edu/files/a15369.jpg

You must be about the same age as me, since I was also in 3rd grade at the time. We even discussed it in school, too. Can't remember if we had a "mock election", though.
Yeah I am the same age as you.

The earliest presidential election that I can recall would have to be the three candidate race of 1992 when I was in the second grade. My parents are avowed conservatives so they voted for Bush Sr.  I can recall Dan Quayle not knowing the correct way to spell potato, and ripping on Murphy Brown even though she was a fictional TV character. ;D  My mom came into my room and woke me up on election night to tell me that we had a new president and his name was Bill Clinton.  A short biography of new First Lady Hillary circulated in our school library shortly thereafter.
Oh yeah I remember the 92 election a little bit. Some kid in summer camp was talking about Dan Quayle and Ross Perot.