First TIme Voter

[NappyBison]

So this will be my first time voting (my state's primaries are in May) and I was wondering are there any other first time voters here on GC? I am trying to educate myself on each of the candidates and what their stances are on issues I believe are important to me. I don't want to be one of those teens who votes for Candidate A because they're someone other than Bush, or for Candidate B because they're a member of this party and so are my parents. My friends tell me I'm taking this all too seriously (I've been researching each candidate on the side) and that as long as Bush is out of office the US will be a better place. That's extremely naive and I refuse to put just anyone in office because now I have a little bit of influence on who will make major decisions for the next 4 years of my life. To make a long story short, I'm excited about expressing my right to put someone in an office besides the ones in my school.

[DSTCHAOS]

You first time voters on here better have age or citizenship reasons for being so.

Yesterday this woman called in to Michael Baisden's show saying she was 40-something and had never voted. There are various reasons why older people don't vote but it's interesting either way.

Congrats, NappyBison, and it's great that you're taking this seriously and researching EACH candidate on EACH side. You make your own informed decision and don't let ANYONE tell you how you should vote and don't feel confined to family traditions, bipartisan expectations, your friends' choices, racialized or gendered expectations, etc.. While it's a huge responsibility and has a great social impact, the decision is completely up to you and you don't have to even tell anyone who you are voting/voted for, let alone explain why you chose a particular candidate. As long as YOU know why you chose a particular candidate and feel it was based on something substantive.

[NappyBison]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

You first time voters on here better have age or citizenship reasons for being so.

Yesterday this woman called in to Michael Baisden's show saying she was 40-something and had never voted. There are various reasons why older people don't vote but it's interesting either way.

Congrats, NappyBison, and it's great that you're taking this seriously and researching EACH candidate on EACH side. You make your own informed decision and don't let ANYONE tell you how you should vote and don't feel confined to family traditions, bipartisan expectations, your friends' choices, racialized or gendered expectations, etc.. While it's a huge responsibility and has a great social impact, the decision is completely up to you and you don't have to even tell anyone who you are voting/voted for, let alone explain why you chose a particular candidate. As long as YOU know why you chose a particular candidate and feel it was based on something substantive.

I love your siggy lol That commercial cracks me up everytime I see it.

[LegallyBrunette]

NB, I'm not a first time voter but I wanted to chime in and say I find it very impressive and refreshing how seriously you are taking this. The first election I was old enough to vote in was the 2000 Presidentials and I remember my roommate telling me she was voting for Bush because she saw him on some talk show and thought he was "funny."

[AKA2D '91]

I saw on a news show where one lady was 89. This was going to be her first time voting in an election.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

I saw on a news show where one lady was 89. This was going to be her first time voting in an election.

God bless her.

That makes me think of the time when blacks who could not read, or had not learned that they now have suffrage, were first time voters at old ages.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yesterday this woman called in to Michael Baisden's show saying she was 40-something and had never voted. There are various reasons why older people don't vote but it's interesting either way.

I heard that yesterday and I was stunned also!!!

Originally Posted by NappyBison

I don't want to be one of those teens who votes for Candidate A because they're someone other than Bush, or for Candidate B because they're a member of this party and so are my parents. My friends tell me I'm taking this all too seriously (I've been researching each candidate on the side) and that as long as Bush is out of office the US will be a better place.

Well here is some good news....Bush can't be re-elected....just make sure that whatever you do, don't be so quick to vote straight down party lines.

Do some homework on candidates that you like and look over how they voted in Congress if any of them have been Senator.

If they did any thing else, like had a governorship research what they did for their state and so on and in the end you should be a little clearer about where your vote lies.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

There are various reasons why older people don't vote but it's interesting either way.

What are these reasons? It's been my experience that older folks--especially those of the Greatest Generation--have taken their civic responsibilities so much more seriously than Baby Boomers or Generation X-ers.

Yeah, I like labeling generations.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

What are these reasons? It's been my experience that older folks--especially those of the Greatest Generation--have taken their civic responsibilities so much more seriously than Baby Boomers or Generation X-ers.

Yeah, I like labeling generations.

In my post, "older" refers to people who are 40 +

People can feel free to add to my list:


1. Feeling a disconnect between the ways "of the past" and contemporary issues/concerns. If they voted years ago, they may reminisce about who they voted for in the past and may even say that the current politicans aren't worth it.
2. A lack of access to information on the candidates and voting, particularly in certain areas and with certain socioeconomic groups.
3. Frustration with the outcome of previous elections--and typical voter apathy
4. Schedules conflict with elections and they don't have the info or the interest to do absentee ballots, etc.
5. The same impatience and intolerance for ALL politicans that I have but it's possibly magnified due to a combo of demographic factors.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

In my post, "older" refers to people who are 40 +

People can feel free to add to my list:


1. Feeling a disconnect between the ways "of the past" and contemporary issues/concerns. If they voted years ago, they may reminisce about who they voted for in the past and may even say that the current politicans aren't worth it.
2. A lack of access to information on the candidates and voting, particularly in certain areas and with certain socioeconomic groups.
3. Frustration with the outcome of previous elections--and typical voter apathy
4. Schedules conflict with elections and they don't have the info or the interest to do absentee ballots, etc.
5. The same impatience and intolerance for ALL politicans that I have but it's possibly magnified due to a combo of demographic factors.

I keep hearing about "I don't want to be called for jury duty. How lame is that?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I keep hearing about "I don't want to be called for jury duty. How lame is that?

It's a lame excuse but an understandable sentiment.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

In my post, "older" refers to people who are 40 +

People can feel free to add to my list:



3. Frustration with the outcome of previous elections--and typical voter apathy

That being the main one...this is why everyone more than ever is being urged to vote this election year

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

That being the main one...this is why everyone more than ever is being urged to vote this election year

I don't think that's the main one, especially for older people who have never voted.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by NappyBison

So this will be my first time voting (my state's primaries are in May) and I was wondering are there any other first time voters here on GC? I am trying to educate myself on each of the candidates and what their stances are on issues I believe are important to me. I don't want to be one of those teens who votes for Candidate A because they're someone other than Bush, or for Candidate B because they're a member of this party and so are my parents. My friends tell me I'm taking this all too seriously (I've been researching each candidate on the side) and that as long as Bush is out of office the US will be a better place. That's extremely naive and I refuse to put just anyone in office because now I have a little bit of influence on who will make major decisions for the next 4 years of my life. To make a long story short, I'm excited about expressing my right to put someone in an office besides the ones in my school.

There is no such thing as taking your privilege to vote seriously!

Having said that, I can only hope that more people feel the way you do. It will only enrich our government!

[DGTess]

Though I'm over 50, I still recall casting my first vote. Congratulations.

You're to be commended for taking the vote seriously and for voting issues, not parties or personalities.

Recall civics classes, too. Candidates will do or say a lot to be elected that they either know they can't accomplish, or learn they can't accomplish. Look at their plans for getting their way. Note whether they have records of compromise and bipartisanship. Note whether they.have records that are consistent with their current words.

For incumbents or those who have been in Congress, look at www.thomas.gov at legislation they've sponsored. What issues have they cared enough about to sponsor? What have they cosponsored? What have they worked hard enough at that they have cosponsors and support from both sides of the aisle? What have they voted FOR or AGAINST simply because it was expedient, but didn't mesh with stated words.

You can spend a lifetime doing this, and some do. Pick an issue or two or three to start. Look at whether the candidate's plans are realistic, not just making promises.

And have FUN!