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milestogo

(18,406 posts) Sat Jan 4, 2025, 11:59 AM Saturday

I didn't vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976. [View all]

It was my first time voting and I was excited about it. I got registered at my college address. I found out where my polling place was. When I got the ballot in front of me there was a long list of names I was unfamiliar with. (In college I didn't watch much television or read the newspaper.)

At the top of the ballot were Ford and Carter. I voted for Gerald Ford. My reasoning was - he's already been president, so he knows how to be president.

When I went back to the dorm people were talking about voting for Carter. They said some really good things. So I reached for my coat and said I've got to go back. I thought I could go back and change my vote to Carter. I found out I couldn't.

If I had done 5 minutes of research - or made a phone call to my parents - I would have voted for Carter. But I didn't. So I was one of those young, dumb, uninformed voters. There are a lot of people out there who voted for Trump this year for the simple reason that they knew the name. It happens. Fortunately Carter won anyway.

In 1980 when Carter lost to Reagan I cried my eyes out. I have never voted for any Republican ever again.

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I didn't vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976. [View all] milestogo Saturday OP

Carter was my first vote in a presidential election NewHendoLib Saturday #1

Me too! phylny Saturday #30

Same here yliza Saturday #39

Me too! IzzaNuDay Saturday #52

My first presidential pick too. redwitch Saturday #56

I was wrong about Jimmy Carter. I figured he was just another Christian phony running for President. keithbvadu2 Saturday #2

Carter was the 2nd time I voted for a Democrat for President Ritabert Saturday #3

You learned from your mistake. SheltieLover Saturday #4

Your story illustrates your important point: that low-information voters decide the election. n/t Mister Ed Saturday #5

I don't know what percentage of people are low-information voters milestogo Saturday #14

You were young & learned a valuable lesson. CrispyQ Saturday #6

Post removed Post removed Saturday #7

Tombstone pizza on the way. Swede Saturday #9

Message auto-removed Name removed Saturday #57

Well Hello again!! I'll be sending you our GP6971 Saturday #58

Which Clinton, which election? IbogaProject Saturday #10

Message auto-removed Name removed Saturday #12

I didn't vote for Carter either ThePartyThatListens Saturday #8

No vote for Carter thanks to Virginia which would not allow me to register under my name Catbird Saturday #11

It's puzzling that this happened to you FakeNoose Saturday #48

I was registered GOP for 20 years IbogaProject Saturday #13

Same here! My parents were GOP and I personally liked Ford anyway. I also didn't trust southern Baptists. LeftInTX Saturday #15

By then I was out of college and working at another university- milestogo Saturday #16

Ha! Reagan came to my campus in Jan 1976. A few of my friends went and protested. LeftInTX Saturday #17

One radio host said it best on why Reagan was able to win win while Goldwater couldn't Polybius Saturday #20

Reagan always seemed fake to me. Goldwater was scary looking to this third grader. LeftInTX Saturday #22

Reagan was incomprehensible to me. milestogo Saturday #23

Reagan was a much more substantial figure in 1980 than Trump was in 2016. Reagan had been the Governor of California Midwestern Democrat Saturday #50

You're right. milestogo Saturday #53

He didn't just seem fake... 3catwoman3 Saturday #27

Thanks for this! ShazzieB Saturday #32

Oh thats funny milestogo Saturday #37

Don't feel bad, I voted for Dole because he was a war hero and my mom said "he looks like a President" Polybius Saturday #18

My first Presidential election was in 1980 Danmel Saturday #19

Look at the electoral map: Sogo Saturday #21

Yes, that 1976 electoral map is shocking! Dem4life1970 Saturday #34

Jimmy Carter was my first vote LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #24

The first time I voted was in 1972 for McGovern Mossfern Saturday #25

Thanks bucolic_frolic Saturday #26

Its like I can never have a straight A report card milestogo Saturday #43

I didn't vote for Carter in 1976 because I didn't want someone from the Deep South in the White House. generalbetrayus Saturday #28

my ex's 1st vote was for raygun. abc mopinko Saturday #29

"I voted for Gerald Ford." J_William_Ryan Saturday #31

My first ever "vote" was for Ford... Dem4life1970 Saturday #33

I've never voted for a Republican for anything. 1972 was my first vote for President and I chose McGovern. jalan48 Saturday #35

Unlike todays Republicans Ford wasn't a bad guy though. nycbos Saturday #36

Ford was a saint compared to the Republicans MAGATs. milestogo Saturday #38

My first opportunity to vote was 1980... CapnSteve Saturday #40

I made the same mistake - only in 1980 when I voted for John Anderson. waterwatcher123 Saturday #41

This is why we must teach our children the Emile Saturday #42

I supported Republicans in high school Elessar Zappa Saturday #44

First time I voted for George H. Bush, yes I was a very uninformed voter. Straight Dem ticket ever since. OverBurn Saturday #45

Voters in 1976 had it very different than voters in 2024 DeeDeeNY Saturday #46

I think I voted for Carter in 1976, but I honestly can't swear to it. ShazzieB Saturday #47

My very first vote was for Al Gore ecstatic Saturday #49

Message auto-removed Name removed Saturday #59

Really? Enjoying your stay? GP6971 Saturday #60

I didn't either. Iggo Saturday #51

I voted for Ford in 1976 Raine Saturday #54

At least you voted. I was apolitical at the time, and didn't vote. My wife voted for Carter! RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Saturday #55

I regret not voting for Carter either and I was a registered Democrat. La Coliniere Yesterday #61