#MyFirstVote

People across the country are sharing their stories of what it felt like to cast their first vote—and what the right to vote means to them. Share your story with #MyFirstVote.

[myfirstvote-blog]

A New Generation of Suffragists

I’m 14 years old. My state of North Carolina removed the program that would have allowed me to pre-register to vote when I turn 16 and the voter education programs in our high schools. 

The youth of our country need to pay attention and fight for the programs that will increase voter turnout among our peers. Hillary Clinton not only spoke out against the removal of pre-registration in my state, but also has a plan to make sure every young person can be registered automatically when they turn 18. 

She is fighting with us. #MyFirstVote will be for the re-election of Hillary Clinton to the office of President of the United States in 2020.

— Madison

[myfirstvote-blog]

My first vote will be for a woman I've admired for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Arkansas in the 90s, I knew who she was very early on. She was an extraordinary woman and every time she was on TV, I was glued to it, even at a very young age. 

She gave me hope as she ran for senate: Around that time my teacher, upon hearing me say that I'd like to run for president someday, told me that I could never win because “they don’t let girls be president.” I was heartbroken, but seeing such a powerful woman take the national stage inspired me then, and continues to inspire me.

Hillary is the candidate whose record shows that she truly cares about women and children, families, veterans, elders and the LGBT community. I’m proud to say #MyFirstVote will be for Hillary. And hopefully one day, I can tell my nieces that they truly can be anything they want to be in this great country, because Hillary will finally shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling for all women!

— Victoria

[myfirstvote-blog]

[myfirstvote-blog]

Having a grandmother, aunts and uncles who marched with MLK and endured intimidation, humiliation and in some cases were attacked because they wanted to be heard, voting to me was more of a show of respect and appreciation to all of those who came before me. My family was able to see the dividends of their determination and sacrifice. 

It is not casting the vote that I remember, but the joy in the face of my grandmother, as if to say, “this moment erases all the pain and all suffering.”

— Derrick

[myfirstvote-blog]

[myfirstvote-blog]

When I was growing up, my parents stressed the importance of voting to my younger brother and me. They always took us along with them to their polling place, our elementary school cafeteria, on Election Day. Mom even took me into the booth with her and let me pull the lever for her vote for Clinton/Gore in 1996. I remember watching my mom and dad step behind the blue curtains of the voting booth and longing for the day when I would get to do the same.

Even though the machines had been updated to electronic by the time I cast my first vote in the Pennsylvania primary a few weeks after my 18th birthday, I felt like I truly became an adult when I stepped back into my old cafeteria to vote. I had spent weeks researching every candidate, and after voting, I carried my receipt from the machine in my wallet for months like a badge of honor. I haven't missed an election since; even in the years when I was away at college, my parents helped me find a way to make sure I got home to cast my ballot. I can't wait for 2016, when I'll get to cast my own vote for Clinton, but for Hillary this time!

—Caitlin

[myfirstvote-blog]

I remember being 18 years old and standing in line at our local fire station at 6:45 AM so I could be one of the first to vote. It was the presidential preference primary in 1992. 

I voted Clinton then. 😄

— Michele

[myfirstvote-blog]

My father told me, “People died so we could vote. Not voting is spitting on their grave.” He meant the countless soldiers and civil rights movement members who died for our rights.

Mom and Dad took me to vote since I was a baby, and my first unofficial vote was for President Carter, when my mom let me flip the switch in the old swoop machines. #MyFirstVote (officially) was in ‘96 for the re-election primary of President Bill Clinton. Then I voted again in November.

— Emi

[myfirstvote-blog]

[myfirstvote-blog]

[myfirstvote-blog]

For #MyFirstVote I drove 2 ½ hours home from college to cast a ballot for John Kerry and drove back the next day for classes, disappointed. 

My political science class the following Thursday, taught by a former Democratic state governor, had a palpable sense of defeat. Our professor made sure to point out that this was democracy in action and if we wanted a different outcome next time, it was up to us to work for it.

—Anonymous, via Tumblr

[myfirstvote-blog]

My first vote was the year I turned 18. It was the 1984 election and such a thrill to be able to vote for the very first time for the first woman vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, who was running with Walter Mondale.  

I was attending a women’s college in Pittsburgh and Ferraro was speaking on a Saturday morning at a rally at Station Square. I couldn't find anyone interested enough to go with me, so I hopped a bus on 5th Avenue by myself and took it downtown. When I got to Station Square it was packed, tons of people, and it hadn’t occurred to me that it might be a ticketed event, which it was. Luckily, I struck up a conversation with some women who gave me an extra ticket they had. 

I don't remember anything Ferraro said, but I do remember the energy and excitement of the rally and in the crowd. I remember it was packed with lots on union members. It really made me that much more excited to vote for the first time that November. 

Subsequent exciting and meaningful votes were for my mom who served 20 years as an elected representative on our local town board. And if all goes as planned, I'll be able to vote for myself when I run for a local election this November. 

Thanks Gerry, thanks Hillary, and thanks mom for being such inspiring role models!

—Anonymous, via Tumblr

[myfirstvote-blog]

Voting is our civic duty as Americans and it is more important now more than ever. One significant cause of low voter turnout is not being registered. Get out there, get your papers, and vote to have your voice heard. 

#MyFirstVote will be cast in 2016. As a political science student, I am excited to finally thank Hillary Clinton for being my biggest inspiration and role model growing up and today. Here’s to you in 2016, Hillary. And here’s to me casting my first vote for you!

—Anonymous, via Tumblr

[myfirstvote-blog]

[myfirstvote-blog]

#MyFirstVote was in November 1992. I was in my first year at Saint Mary’s College in Indiana. I was a registered voter in Pennsylvania, but being away from home for school, I didn’t want to do the absentee ballot. I wanted to actually “pull the lever,” so I registered in Indiana and cast my vote for President Bill Clinton.  

I always exercise my right to vote and have never missed an election, not even a primary or midterm election. It is my way to honor the women who fought for my right to vote. I will be voting for another President Clinton in 2016!

[myfirstvote-blog]

#MyFirstVote was for Bill Clinton and my next vote will be for Hillary! I was 18 and a college freshman-to-be when I first heard about candidate Bill Clinton and of course, Hillary. As I learned more about Hillary, I told my family that she would be our first woman President. I was proud to vote for Hillary in 2008, and can not wait to do it again!

— Kim 

[myfirstvote-blog]