Voting Newbie...

Lordy lordy our Twoey is gonna be 40, hehe. Welcome to the grown up world of voting. I have been voting since I was 18. Sometimes there are differnet issues to vote on, you can vote for them or not, that is up to you, The same way with the Presidential voting. First you vote in the primaries, you have the republicans and the democrats. Each party has to pick their canidite, so the party can endorse. To vote in the primaries you have to declare yourself either rebublican or democrat and then you can vote for who you want to run for president with that party. When it comes to voting for President you can vote whatever way you want. I hope I didn't confuse you. The board of elections can probably explain it even better. Good luck.

You are brave for posting who you would most likely vote for. I imagine mylotters are going to overwhelm you with why your choice is wrong (to them). I was lucky to get to vote the very first year I was elgible. I was so proud! I even kept the 'I voted' sticker they handed out after each person cast their ballot. Good for you for not letting the passage of time get in the way of doing this. The important thing is that you are doing it now.

I am very confused with new election. I am not sure who I want to vote for. So far, none of them is my favorite to be honest. I wasn't confused when voting for Gore, but.... I will see...not a secret...but...I don't know...

I am the same as you altho I am very much for my country I havent ever voted for a prez. voted in sate thing and that turned out wrong any way any one voted it came out different than what was stated . And then when Bush got the prez office stole for him it still makesya wonder if teh vote you do will count the one thing that messes me up is the electoial votes. and so far huckabee sounds good if I go for that party. and you arent surpose to tell who you vote for I never heard my parents ever say and to this day I dont know if they were Dems. Or repblic. lol Dad told me he voted for who he thought was best. also heard that if you vote for one and hubby voted different they cancel each other out. Plotics are awfull to deal with hugs and good luck!

Ron Paul is also running for president but they are hiding him, but he is in the running...I think that is who i am leaning toward..Yes your husband is right not only do you vote for president but also a lot of others as well..When you decide which way you are going to vote,rather it be democrate,republican or indepenant,you can just do a vote under the one you vote for..Example if you vote republican you can vote republican all the way down and the same thing for democrate...and so on

just my oppinions and we all have one vote Mc Cain for more of the same !(more of a mess than were in now) vote for Obama (if his muslim upbringing dont bother you as it does me! vote for Hillary cause it lways takes a woman to clean up after a man!

Hello Twoey, Congratulations on deciding to practice your right to choose our elected representatives. Of course, with each right comes responsibility. So, doing one's homework, ahead of time is actually very important. Plus, it'll make your voting experience alot more pleasant. Your husband is correct. Your ballot will contain the choice for: 1. President 2. National Senator(s) (if either is up for re-election in your state) 3. National Congresssional Representative(s) (again if any are up for re-election) 4. State Assemblymen (women) (if yours is up for re-election) 5. State Senator (if yours is up for re-election) 6. State & local judges 7. County officials 8. Any State Constitutional amendments which may have been introduced for a vote. 9. Any bond issues 10. Any referendums To become most informed about the issues that will be placed on your ballot, I would suggest that you call your County Clerk at least a few days before you go to vote. Ask if the ballot and the intitiatives are posted on-line anywhere. The state issues will be available on your Secretary of State's website. Although, for the local & county initiatives you will need to get the specifics from the County Clerk. Always there will be pro & con arguments for bond issues, referendums & constitutional amendments. These can usually be obtained from the Dem & Republican State Party Headquarters, and will usually appear on their web-sites. Also, the Secretary of State will usually post these arguments prior to the election. As for selecting the national candidate of your choice: I strongly recommend that you check out these sources. Although, the third link to the Thomas Directory is my personal favorite. http://www.house.gov/ http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/g_three_sections_with_teasers/legislative_home.htm http://thomas.loc.gov/ From the Thomas directory you can review the legislative intitiates and voting records for any Congressional Rep. or Senator. Similarly, your state should have an accounting of how all of your state assembly rep's & senators have voted on past bills. This will allow you to garner their political leanings and pursuasion. I'll also add that voting for Huckabee would be what's considered an idealogue's vote. Meaning that Huckabee cannot possibly win -- he has no chance of winning enough delegates to win the primary nomination. This is why McCain is considered the "Nominee apparent". Romney did not bow out of the race, rather he suspended his campaign. This means that Romney is holding on to his delegates. Which means that Huckabee cannot numerically win, unless Romney turns over his delegates to Huckabee, and if Huckabee wins every single delegate henceforth. Even then, I don't think Huckabee can squeak it out. And, Romney will not turn over his delegates to Huckabee because Romney has already alluded (at the CPAC convention) that the party should support McCain. Right now Huckabee is continuing his run to earn the backhanded favor of McCain. Huckabee is angling for a V.P. slot on the ticket. Though, it's unlikely that he will get it. The best Huckabee can hope for is a cushy cabinet position -- if McCain wins. Again, welcome aboard. I hope you find great satisfaction inr participating in our electoral process. Way to go, Twoey!

If your state hasn't already had it's primary, that will be the first thing you can vote in. If you are a democrat, you can vote in the democratic primaray...that is to choose who you want to be the democratic candidate for president to be...Obama, or Hillary, for example. If you are republican, you can vote in your state's republican primary...for Huckabee or McCain, for example. Then, in November, we all will vote for the president. It's easier if you don't discuss politics much at work...you can start all kinds of arguments. Good luck on the research and have fun!

Talking about politics sometimes is talking about religion...you just never know what you're going to get when you start the discussion LOL. I'm too liberal for most Republicans and I'm voting for Hilary Clinton. I know more about her and I agree with what I've heard. My other choice would be Obama - because he's a democrat but there is something about him that makes me get really uneasy any time I see him or listen to him speak. And I swear it's been increasing. At this time I have no interest in Republicans because of the last 8 years...BUT if a strong one came a long that wanted to change everything I believe needs to be changed then I'd listen...but it's highly unlikely. I do tell people who ask (or that visit my myspace page LOL) who I am voting for. I have voted once in my life - I voted for Al Gore. The last election I didn't vote because I didn't want Bush to win and my hubby would have rather had Bush than Kerry and so...we just stayed at home 'cause our votes canceled each other out. BUT if I remember correctly - you only voted for what you wanted to. I voted for the President and a council man that was running at the time. That was the finally election though. I've never voted in the primary. Personally I don't believe in our voting system as I don't think it actually works. We - the people - still don't decide in the end. I think it's all ceremonial more than anything. Otherwise Gore would have been in office - not Bush.

Considering your profile page I am shocked and disappointed to hear you have never voted! Voting is something that women fought for and I, as a Naturalized American Citizen, take very seriously. I hope you read and educated yourself on the issues of each party and NOT vote only by race or gender.

Hi Twoey Does your hubby vote? If he does you could just do like my hubby does he votes what ever I tell him to lol Course he didn't vote at all until I made him register. Basically you just have to decide who is the lessor of all evils and cast your vote usually twice once in the primary and then again in the general elections

The best thing I could tell you is to find out everything you can about the candidates, and the issues (those things that you will be voting on besides the President). Do your research, don't just settle for the information you get on television, most of it is biased any way. Go online, find out what each candidates platform (what he/she promises to do once in office) is. Find out what each issue will mean for your area, city, state, and region if it passes. The best way to go at this for the first time is armed with information.

Try to find out a little bit about all the candidates and try to vote for someone who is not involved with all these special interest groups.

I have met McCain here in arizona and to my finding he would and will be the better choice and the people at the voting boths will give a latge paper you go to the stoll and start punching out what you are voting on they should have a ballot box you put it in and you are done.

I'm going to vote For Hillary because of the job she done when Bill was in office. To me it really doesn't matter who gets put in there I don't think they can fix this world

I tend to listen to my my frends and family when it comes to voting b/c I too find it confusing listening to all the facts from each person. When people I know start arguing about the candidates, that's when I'm sitting there in the back of my head taking in what I want to. I still like to learn the basic facts, but I don't believe you can every really know what you are getting until you get it! People can say one thing then do another. For a first time voter, try not to think about it too hard. I really go by personality some of the time and vote for the person who appears to be nice and kind, but like I said, you can't always tell. Also advice for a first timer is to not let other people try to bully you into voting their way. Many people will harass you to try to convince you not to vote for someone. I usually don't discuss who I'm voting for b/c there are people (like you said) who feel the need to tell you why you are WRONG. Some people think that your vote is screwing up the entire country. After voting is over, I will admit to who I voted for but I won't fight about it. If they want to fight about it, they can fight with the wall because I'm staying out of it. Some people say I should stand up more for the person I'm voting for, but I don't feel the need to. I feel like some people's minds will never be changed and it's not worth fighting over. BTW - I will not vote for hillary even if her's is the ONLY name on the ballot! I would rather write someone in then vote for her. I just don't like her. Hope that helps :)

Congrats.Be sure to watch how the primaries go. They will ultimately decide who will run against each other. It is good that you are trying to learn all you can about the canditates. When you vote you also need to know that you will be asked to vote on state and local issues. The best thing I can say is be sure to do your own research on all of the people running for office.

When you register to vote you have to pick a party or go independant. If you are registered for one party and want to vote for another party in the caucus you cannot. I wanted to vote out of my party on CA super Tuesday and could not vote out of party. You have to decided what you want in a president and then read up on the politians. Do you want a president to end the war in Iraq. DO you want a president that believes in going Green, do you vote someone in because of his or her religious backgroud? Do you vote a person in because of the famous people who back them up? Then there is usually other things to vote on. In CA we voted on a few other laws like letting indian casions add more slot machines in doing that they will pay more taxes to the state. We voted on using tax money that is ear marked for roads to be used only for roads. Then there may be local bills or bonds that you might vote for. You might be asked to vote on a bond so they can build a new school, increase taxes in your area a few cents or .05 cents for law enforcement. These are things I have seen on ballots the years I have been voting.

Hi First Time Voter, Thank you for joining us in our quest for free and fair representation in this world. 1. Please make sure you know all the rules and regs in your locality, a friend of mine wanted to vote, didn't realize she had to pre-register and got turned away from the poles during her first attempt. Some others didn't bring picture ID and had to go home and get it. 2. Check out what each Candidate is saying not what others are saying they're saying. Go to their websites or get their pamphlets. Get something from each Candidate. Also if you can, watch the debates. That's what's coming out of their mouths. Make up your own mind, not what other people are saying about them. I keep studying the Candidates up until the election. I keep it a secret. Take care.

I have met McCain here in arizona and to my finding he would and will be the better choice and the people at the voting boths will give a large paper you go to the stoll and start punching out what you are voting on they should have a ballot box you put it in and you are done.