When was the first time you voted?

[angus]

In the fall of 1985, when I was 18.  There was a special congressional election to replace a recently-deceased house member, and the two guys running for the office were a Republican and a Democrat.  I voted for the Republican.  I was so excited about the chance to do something so rebellious.  My mother and father were Mickey Mouse democrats.  For them, the Republicans could do no right and the democrats no wrong.  I grew up thinking Nixon was a dirty word.  By the time I was starting to be old enough to vote I really couldn't wait to vote so that I could vote for a Republican, and I did so the first chance I got.

The Democrat won.  Actually, it turned out to be a good thing.  He was a decent man and he ended up usually voting on legislation in ways that I would have if I were in the house, and he served several terms.  In retrospect, I'm glad the guy I voted for lost.