General Discussion

Trailrider1951

(3,581 posts)

55. I was 20 years old

Wed Sep 4, 2024, 03:06 PM

Sep 2024

It was 1972, the year the age limit for voting was dropped from 21 to 18. Had they not dropped the age limit, I would have been 21 about 3 weeks after the election, and unable to vote in that election. I voted for McGovern and all the Democrats down the ballot. And I've been a Democrat all the years since.

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How old were you when you first registered & voted? Did your parents/elders take you with them to vote as a kid? [View all] irisblue Sep 2024 OP

Registered at 21, as require by law, way back then. Didn't get to vote for president until 1972 at 24. sinkingfeeling Sep 2024 #1

Same for me, except I was 21 in 1972. CanonRay Sep 2024 #4

It was required? I didn't moonscape Sep 2024 #19

Had to be 21 by law to vote. sinkingfeeling Sep 2024 #23

Yes, I knew that, it was moonscape Sep 2024 #34

I think they meant that 21 was required whopis01 Sep 2024 #58

Thanks! Whew! moonscape Sep 2024 #60

I registered to vote when I moved at age 18. lark Sep 2024 #2

I regestered myself at age 21 Mossfern Sep 2024 #3

Yes! This is just what happened to me! raging moderate Sep 2024 #20

My mother was a member of the League of Women Voters. DURHAM D Sep 2024 #5

I registered at age 17 while a senior in high school. Glorfindel Sep 2024 #6

I registered to vote and for the draft on the same day (18). 1983 Dennis Donovan Sep 2024 #7

Same here DeepWinter Sep 2024 #15

My Dad did the same thing with me except I was a preschooler. Rhiannon12866 Sep 2024 #61

Registered at 21 as was the voting age snowybirdie Sep 2024 #8

I registered at age 18 in April 2008. ClimateHawk Sep 2024 #9

Registered at 18. Eugene Sep 2024 #10

I registered at 21. murielm99 Sep 2024 #11

Guess there's a lot of us who got "clean for Gene" arlyellowdog Sep 2024 #12

I registered and voted at 18. BlueTsunami2018 Sep 2024 #13

First presidential vote was 1980 for Jimmy Carter. 21 years old MaryMagdaline Sep 2024 #14

As senior BigMin28 Sep 2024 #16

Registered a few days after I turned 18 Bettie Sep 2024 #17

Registered At 18 ProfessorGAC Sep 2024 #18

Voted for Nixon.. Permanut Sep 2024 #21

Sometimes we learn slowly, sometimes it is quick. irisblue Sep 2024 #22

Nixon BigMin28 Sep 2024 #27

IIRC, I had to be 21. I voted in my first presidential election for John F. Kennedy. CTyankee Sep 2024 #24

I was at UW Madison. LakeArenal Sep 2024 #25

Sometime in the mid-1980s. Dulcinea Sep 2024 #26

Registered at 21. No, my parents did not take any of us kids to the polls when they voted. OLDMDDEM Sep 2024 #28

It was 1966. I was 21. MineralMan Sep 2024 #29

I was 18. redstatebluegirl Sep 2024 #30

Registered and voted at 18. Never missed a vote since, and I'm 62. Went with my parents to vote every time, since I Meadowoak Sep 2024 #31

I registered at age 18 redstatebluegirl Sep 2024 #32

Registered at 18 Basso8vb Sep 2024 #33

Back in the last century, we weren't able to vote until age 21 and I registered then. Deuxcents Sep 2024 #35

I was 21 because that was law at the time Jilly_in_VA Sep 2024 #36

The 1968 mock election had Humphrey, Nixon & Wallace irisblue Sep 2024 #38

18. My father was a Republican; my mother what today we'd call... NNadir Sep 2024 #37

I registered as a Democrat to vote in 1965. when I turned 21. Ping Tung Sep 2024 #39

My parents voted by mail because we were military. LeftInTX Sep 2024 #40

Registered at age 21 (before the 26th Amendment); voted for RFK in the primary, HHH in the general. LoisB Sep 2024 #41

Wow, you got to vote for RFK. I was waiting w excitement to volunteer for him in the... electric_blue68 Sep 2024 #67

Yes. It was an honor. Then saw his assassination on television as it happened. LoisB Sep 2024 #68

17 since I turned 18 in time for the general. TheKentuckian Sep 2024 #42

I turned 18 in 1980. MoonchildCA Sep 2024 #43

21 for me which was the law then. Golden Raisin Sep 2024 #44

Turned 20 just after the 26th amendment went into effect Retrograde Sep 2024 #45

I registered to vote on my birthday when I turned 18 and one month later, I voted for Jimmy Carter. lees1975 Sep 2024 #46

Registered right after I turned 18, which was December of 2001. Elessar Zappa Sep 2024 #47

Registered myself age 21 in 1961. republianmushroom Sep 2024 #48

18th Birthday maxsolomon Sep 2024 #49

30 and voted for Jimmy Carter. lamp_shade Sep 2024 #50

Senior year of high school DetroitLegalBeagle Sep 2024 #51

I was 18 when I registered, Island Blue Sep 2024 #52

It was 1972. I was 18, and registered when my mother and I went to vote in the Iowa primary. rsdsharp Sep 2024 #53

1971 was when the voting age was changed to 18. kerry-is-my-prez Sep 2024 #54

I was 20 years old Trailrider1951 Sep 2024 #55

Registered at 18, voted at 19... for Reagan. Cuz... parents. WarGamer Sep 2024 #56

Registered at 18 and yes, mom took me with her several times when she voted Attilatheblond Sep 2024 #57

Oh, that's sad. Also imoortant she had the job! electric_blue68 Sep 2024 #64

Our family was not sad with the way she passed. We just figured it was the best way for her. Attilatheblond Sep 2024 #70

Registered when I was 18 and voted for the first time when I was 18. I've voted very year since then. 50 years of Raftergirl Sep 2024 #59

I was 19 when I first voted in an election OnionPatch Sep 2024 #62

I was in the *very First Year* of 18 yr old voters in 1971... electric_blue68 Sep 2024 #63

18 years old in 2002 in the midterms registered myself and voted at my library MistakenLamb Sep 2024 #65

I didn't vote until I was 21 because I was 18 in 1968 wnylib Sep 2024 #66

I wasn't old enough to vote for President Clinton for his first term. Niagara Sep 2024 #69