Just voted for the first time, tonight at 8 I'll be seeing if it makes a difference

[AvsJoe]

I have only voted twice and only for municipal elections. I know I should vote for the federal ones but my vote won't make a difference. Besides, they'll just vote for the fat guy anyway.

 

[Rednog]

The first time I voted my dad congratulated me and then told me my vote was completely pointless since our state has been democrat for years and will be democrat way past the point of when I'm dead and that our last 3 governors all got caught for being corrupt.
Cookie for guessing what state I live in.

Pointless vote? That's what they said about anyone like me in the UK, who voted for Liberal Democrats (the third choice beyond the Conservatives and Labour, who traditionally swap places just like you guys with Democrats and Republicans). Guess what happened this year? A split whereby the Liberal Democrats ended up as partners in a coalition government. If people hadn't 'wasted their votes' like me then we'd be stuck with a full on centre-right party who traditionally favour the rich and screw the poor, whereas now we get tempered down policies that ensure everything's fair for all. So yeah, vote for who you believe in, regardless of history. History means squat when you're voting in an election, and just a few votes can sometimes make all the difference.

Who did you vote for, by the way? Though I'm British, looking at US politics (my former housemate is actually in Washington DC doing a year's internship with some politician, don't know who, as part of his Politics course) I generally support the Democrats over the Republicans. So I'm interested to see what the voter turnout and result tonight will be .

For that governor election in IL I voted for Topinka since she was the former treasurer.
The current election I haven't voted cause I'm overseas in Europe and getting an absentee ballot is just an insane hassle. And while yes it isn't a good thing to say a ballot is wasted, there are cases where a state swings, IL hasn't swung away from democrat in like the last 5 presidential votes, and won't for a long time. The republicans in the state are way too unorganized to lead any successful campaign that can actually beat a democrat.
Though I rarely vote consistently for one party, I tend to lean Republican just because IL's budgets and the way it deals with politics under the last few regimes has been a quagmire and I'd like to see if a conservative take can actually accomplish anything.

 

[AstylahAthrys]

I just voted for the first time today and I felt glad that I did. In Michigan I really felt like my vote made a difference, especially in the Governor race. I'm watching the election coverage right now actually.

Snyder, the One Tough Nerd is projected to win at the moment. Woot.

 

[aPod]

The first time I voted my dad congratulated me and then told me my vote was completely pointless since our state has been democrat for years and will be democrat way past the point of when I'm dead and that our last 3 governors all got caught for being corrupt.
Cookie for guessing what state I live in.

New Jersey or Illinois.

Congratulations on voting guys. Enjoy court duty, sometimes its cool.

 

[Worgen]

I did early voting but most of my votes wont matter since Im in the one smart city in a red state and our congress man should win easy over the tea party fuck nuts but my vote for gov is wasted since the idiot governor has been in power much too long and the rest of this stupid state dont seem to care much

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I'll save you the suspense, it doesn't. Well about as much difference as gobbing into a river anyway. The only real reason I actually go and vote is because I feel that if I don't I forfeit my right to complain.

 

[vento 231]

Heres the low down, I just voted for the first time. The polls close at 8:00pm here just a couple hours away.

Anyways the topic of discussion is either what was it like your first time voting or what you hope will be passing.

For overseas people who don't care about the U.S elections you can post pictures of something funny/cute or talk about your first time voting.

Oh and I'm form California.

Mind if I ask what you voted on specifically, and possibly your opinion. Also, do you live anywhere near Modesto, CA? It would be cool to know some one lives close.

 

[Swaki]

my first time voting was kinda boring, went to a school filled with old people and filled out a little circle.

i dont even remember if we won, it was something about the heir to the throne, which was deliciously ironic.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Heres the low down, I just voted for the first time. The polls close at 8:00pm here just a couple hours away.

Anyways the topic of discussion is either what was it like your first time voting or what you hope will be passing.

For overseas people who don't care about the U.S elections you can post pictures of something funny/cute or talk about your first time voting.

Oh and I'm form California.

Eve if all you do is slightly shift the victory % a small point, you still 'made a difference'. Don't think that your vote only matters if the race is close or in your favor.

 

[Mcupobob]

Heres the low down, I just voted for the first time. The polls close at 8:00pm here just a couple hours away.

Anyways the topic of discussion is either what was it like your first time voting or what you hope will be passing.

For overseas people who don't care about the U.S elections you can post pictures of something funny/cute or talk about your first time voting.

Oh and I'm form California.

Mind if I ask what you voted on specifically, and possibly your opinion. Also, do you live anywhere near Modesto, CA? It would be cool to know some one lives close.

I live in the Mariposa county, and I voted mainly Libertarian.

 

[Good morning blues]

I'm Canadian; my first time voting was in a federal election. I voted NDP, because I like my riding's MP, and he won, but we didn't get a Liberal government like I wanted (although that was the election where Dion was the party leader, so it was pretty clear that it wouldn't happen).

 

[dickseverywhere]

Yes on 19?

thats what i was hoping he meant.

The first time I voted my dad congratulated me and then told me my vote was completely pointless since our state has been democrat for years and will be democrat way past the point of when I'm dead and that our last 3 governors all got caught for being corrupt.
Cookie for guessing what state I live in.

Pointless vote? That's what they said about anyone like me in the UK, who voted for Liberal Democrats (the third choice beyond the Conservatives and Labour, who traditionally swap places just like you guys with Democrats and Republicans). Guess what happened this year? A split whereby the Liberal Democrats ended up as partners in a coalition government. If people hadn't 'wasted their votes' like me then we'd be stuck with a full on centre-right party who traditionally favour the rich and screw the poor, whereas now we get tempered down policies that ensure everything's fair for all.

lol, great joke there.
oh, you're serious aren't you? the libdems haven't got the balls to do a damn thing about what the cons want sadly and the ones that do end up defecting to labour in disgust. but yeah vote for who you feel is the best candidate, just don't expect them to stick to their guns when there's power to be had.

 

[ottenni]

Ahhh i remember the first time voted. I drew i giant penis on my ballot paper, just like everyone else i know. In fact i think the giant penis party may have won the election if they had been counted.

 

[Nalesnik]

In my opinion, regardless of whether or not your candidate wins, you have made a difference by voting. In an idea world, everyone would vote, to yield the most representative results. Obviously that isn't the case, but by contributing to that ideal, I think you've done a good thing

In an ideal world, there would be no need for politics.

 

[Roxas1359]

Heres the low down, I just voted for the first time. The polls close at 8:00pm here just a couple hours away.

Anyways the topic of discussion is either what was it like your first time voting or what you hope will be passing.

For overseas people who don't care about the U.S elections you can post pictures of something funny/cute or talk about your first time voting.

Oh and I'm form California.

EDIT: As for who I voted for it was mainly the Libertarian party with a few republicans and dems here and there.

The only two props I cared about were 19 and 27 which I voted yes on both.

While I'm not of age of voting yet I do follow politics a lot. Congrats on voting and now we here in California finally don't have to deal with the constant barrage of ads that have been playing nonstop.

 

[neoontime]

Heres the low down, I just voted for the first time. The polls close at 8:00pm here just a couple hours away.

Anyways the topic of discussion is either what was it like your first time voting or what you hope will be passing.

For overseas people who don't care about the U.S elections you can post pictures of something funny/cute or talk about your first time voting.

Oh and I'm form California.

EDIT: As for who I voted for it was mainly the Libertarian party with a few republicans and dems here and there.

The only two props I cared about were 19 and 27 which I voted yes on both.

Don't tell us you votes, they might not come true.
Anyways I wish I was lucky as you, I have to wait 2 years. Damn, I wish my birthday wasn't right after the election date.

 

[sinsfire]

Wow, Some of the comments here are really disturbing. First off congratulations to OP for voting, please remember that even if the people/propositions you pick don't win it doesn't mean your vote doesn't matter.

To all of those who don't vote please realize that if you don't vote you don't get to complain. If you choose not to participate then you are resigned to what others choose for you. You have made the conscious decision not to participate and I feel bad for you.

If nothing else this election cycle should show that a small movement of people can change the face of politics. I am a democrat but I have to admire the ability of the tea party and the republicans to organize. They have run impressive campaigns that have spoken to the lowest common denominator. But in truth that is what moves people. Base fear works and from a small group on April 15th 2009 they have grown to a force in politics.

If you don't like what is out there then you have two options, do something to change it, or do nothing and live with it.

 

[warprincenataku]

Meh, as an American living overseas I tend to ignore any and all things dealing with the motherland.