#vra50

[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]

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!