at what age did you registered to vote?

[Dancing Fire]

 

[suchende]

Before the first election I was eligible to vote for. I voted in that one (though abstained from voting for President) and haven't voted since.

 

[jstarfireb]

Immediately after I turned 18. It was an election year (2000), and I turned 18 in October.

 

[ladypirate]

18! I think voting is a vital part of a democracy and so I signed up as soon as I was legal.

 

[monarch64]

18, as soon as it was legal. However, I never voted until last fall's local primary election. I've always been a registered voter, though.

 

[zoebartlett]

Immediately after I turned 18. It was an election year (2000), and I turned 18 in October.

Me too, and I was born in October as well. I turned 18 in '92 though, another election year.

 

[bee*]

As soon as I turned 18.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

18!

 

[iheartscience]

18! I think voting is a vital part of a democracy and so I signed up as soon as I was legal.

Ditto! Haven't missed voting in an election since. I vote in most of the primaries too.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

18, and I don't vote. It doesn't honestly feel worth it when my state/area always leans overwhelmingly to the opposite side I'm on

 

[iheartscience]

18, and I don't vote. It doesn't honestly feel worth it when my state/area always leans overwhelmingly to the opposite side I'm on

I really hate excuses like this. I lived in Virginia during the 2008 presidential elections and it went to Obama. In the past it's ALWAYS gone Republican. If all the Democrats in my state had thought "Eh, VA is always Republican, why bother?" then the state wouldn't have tipped blue that time around.

No matter what side of the political spectrum you're on, you should vote.

 

[Upgradable]

18, and my first election I voted on an absentee ballot. It really made me feel like an adult.

I always try to vote, and am about 80% successful. However, I make it a policy to never disclose my votes. My job is to record my opinion, not to deluge everyone else with it.

 

[stephbolt]

21 - so I could vote in the 2004 presidential election. I was in college prior to that and didn't want to deal with the hassle of getting an absentee ballot to vote in my hometown when I wasn't that interested in politics at that age. Now I vote in almost every election though.

 

[joflier]

I was 18.

 

[TooPatient]

17.

Since I was 18 by the time the election occured, this was perfectly legal (according to the person registering voters -- and since I didn't get in trouble, it must have been fine)

I think I've voted in all but one election since then.

 

[somethingshiny]

I registered at 18 ('97) but didn't vote until I was 21 (2000). There weren't any big elections until then.

 

[kittybean]

18! I think voting is a vital part of a democracy and so I signed up as soon as I was legal.

Ditto! Haven't missed voting in an election since. I vote in most of the primaries too.

Same here. Not only is it my civic duty, but it's also a privilege many people will never get to enjoy.

 

[holly sparkle]

20 Yes I should have done it earlier but I was young and silly. I have bucked up since then!

 

[Amber St. Clare]

32

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

17.

Since I was 18 by the time the election occured, this was perfectly legal (according to the person registering voters -- and since I didn't get in trouble, it must have been fine)

I think I've voted in all but one election since then.

Same here. I grew up in Iowa, where we have caucuses instead of primaries. As long as you'll be 18 by the time the general election rolls around, it's allowed. So I caucused for Al Gore when I was 17. (Can I say that? Or is that bordering on political chat? Mods, you can delete if that's not kosher).

 

[Dancing Fire]

18, and I don't vote. It doesn't honestly feel worth it when my state/area always leans overwhelmingly to the opposite side I'm on

i use the same excuse.my vote don't count in Ca...

 

[packrat]

27-ish? I can't remember. I

 

[rhbgirl24]

18, as soon as I was able!

 

[merilenda]

I registered at 17. Of course, you aren't allowed to vote until you're 18, but you can register when you're within a certain number of months away from your birthday. I was very involved in youth political organizations.

 

[iheartscience]

18, and I don't vote. It doesn't honestly feel worth it when my state/area always leans overwhelmingly to the opposite side I'm on

i use the same excuse.my vote don't count in Ca...

DF-if you don't vote I don't want to hear you whine about the government anymore. You forfeit the right to complain if you don't even take part in the political system!

 

[manderz]

I registered at 18, and I think it was an election year as well. I vote as often as I can remember to get out there, and I also worked the last several elections.

 

[Burberrygirl]

I registered in 2008 just before I turned 18. The deadline to register was a few days before my birthday. You can register early as long as you're 18 by election day. I vote in every election and almost all the primaries.

 

[packrat]

Jeez DF, even *I* started voting-for the same reason as T2o2 just stated. Now I've got plenty more to bitch and moan about and I feel fully entitled to do so.

 

[Dancing Fire]

18, and I don't vote. It doesn't honestly feel worth it when my state/area always leans overwhelmingly to the opposite side I'm on

i use the same excuse.my vote don't count in Ca...

DF-if you don't vote I don't want to hear you whine about the government anymore. You forfeit the right to complain if you don't even take part in the political system!

i did register when i became a US citizen in 1977 at the age of 18.

i didn't vote in 1980 and 1984 b/c i knew Reagan was gonna win easily...
in 1988 i voted for Bush..won
in 1992 i voted for Bush again...loss
in 1996 i voted for Micky Mouse cuz i didn't like any of the candidates.
in 2000 i voted for GW Bush..won
in 2004 i voted for GW bush..won
in 2008 i voted for McCain ..loss

 

[HollyS]

I was just one year shy of being able to vote in 1976. I was registered and ready in 1980. The presidential election in '80 was my first election, and I've voted in every national election since that one.

I had not voted in local or state elections prior to Nov. 1980. I was new to the state of Texas and new nothing about any of the candidates or issues.