If you are in the US, what is the first presidential election that you took part in? If you are elsewhere, what was a memorable election for you?

*As I post this, it is ten days and sixteen hours to that day-of-days, November 8th, the 58th quadricennial US Presidential election!

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Didge Doo Profile
Didge Doo answered

No question which was my most memorable election.

In 1975 the Australian Governor General, acting on the authority of the English queen, sacked an elected Australian government and called an election.

This was done when the leader of the party then in opposition and the GG conspired to put the conservatives into power.

It was constitutional, but it also underlined the hidden power of the monarchy to control the government in Australia. As you can imagine, there was outrage among the people who had voted for the dismissed government.

That event should have paved the way for an Australian republic but, alas, the moment slipped by and is now history.

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Virginia Lou
Virginia Lou commented
Dozy through watching Canadian TV, I learned the term "prorogue." The then-conservative government used that...you just suspend parliament because you know you are going to lose the vote, if a vote is taken right now.

But if you wait until things cool off...and that is what happened. It worked, and the Conservatives ended up winning that round.

Did they call it that in Australia? Prorogue?
Didge Doo
Didge Doo commented
It could happen in Canada, too, Teach. There was such a stink in Oz it will probably never been tried again (like Trevor Chappell's underarm bowling in cricket).

No Virginia. It was never called that and I don't think the term applies. John Kerr just pulled a rabbit out of his gubernatorial hat and said, "That''s it! You are no longer the government."

And, yes, it's high time we got out. A referendum was held 20-some years later but the government (again, conservatives) were careful to link it to a totally unrelated matter. Either both would be passed, or neither. The ballot failed.
Virginia Lou
Virginia Lou commented
Thank you, Dozy
otis campbell Profile
otis campbell answered

1980 im a registered democrat. But after gas lines had to vote for reagan

Yin And Yang Profile
Yin And Yang answered

Oh mine was VERY memorable...... I was in the actual voting booth and my dad kept calling me over and over cuz he could not hear me when I would quickly answer and say "I can't talk. I am voting." He was reminding me to vote for Bush! I finally had to raise my voice and say "DAD!!!! I am in the voting booth now! Stop calling me!" LOL!

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Virginia Lou
Virginia Lou commented
Oh Y&Y...well your family does take voting seriously!
Yin And Yang
Yin And Yang commented
LOL! He wanted to make sure Bush won that year! LOL!
Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
Interesting. Phones are not allowed in early voting poling locations in my town. I wonder how long that's been a policy/law.

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