What is your first election night memory?

[Phony Moderate]

Because it's that time of year again....

I remember turning on the TV on the morning of Nov 3. 2004 just before I left to go to school, and Nevada was called for Bush, giving him a 254-242 lead in the Electoral College.

My first UK election night memory was staying up until about 11:00PM on May 5. 2005 to see Labour MP Chris Mullin being re-elected in Sunderland South.

[fezzyfestoon]

I remember my parents letting me stay up late because they called the election back from Bush in 2000.  About an hour went by and nothing had changed so I went to bed.  When I woke up I thought someone must have won and asked my mom and she said no one won yet.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Regarding the U.S.: 2000

Poland: 1995

[Joe Biden 2020]

My first election night memory is watching Vice President George Bush trounce Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in 1988.  I was hooked on politics from that time on, and I was only 6 1/2 years old.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

2000, but I didn't understand anything about it: just that the election was close.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I didn't do an election all-nighter until 2005. But the first time I watched any part of an election night was in 1997, which left a major impression (har, har, har). I don't think I'd be obsessive about elections had I not done so.

Btw, Portillo losing had special significance for my young self; a couple of days before the election he was on telly and said that the Tories were going to win. This worried me, so I asked my Dad and he cheered me up by saying they had no chance. I obviously wasn't up for Portillo, but seeing the footage in the morning delighted me.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

I don't really remember that much from 2002, but I do remember Göran Persson's victory speech, and SVT showing imiages of People's Party supporters bathing in the fountain at Sergel's Square to celebrate their high result. So I guess those two has to count. (Although the fountain bathing might be from a News broadcast the next day, now that I think about it.)

[Hash]

US: 2004. I suppose I followed the campaign as much as a Grade 7 student would, and cared a bit about it probably because of the anti-Bush environment I lived in; I also recall the stuff in Ohio and so on. I followed 2006 a bit more and recall the morning after the election with the races in VA and MT too close to call; and a comment by my English teacher (ugh, God destroy him) that his country had become sane again.

France: 2002. My dad told me the next morning that Jospin had lost and that it was Le Pen in the runoff; 2007 is the first election I followed

Canada: 2004 with vague memories of 2000. I went to the polling booth with my aunt and followed early results and remember being very much anti-Harper (and in 2006, I was pro-Harper; and in 2008 I was back to very much anti-Harper).

Brazil: 2006. I recall the French news report on the first round, that Lula had gone into a runoff but that he was favoured against Alckmin, who they mentioned was nicknamed chu-chu and lacked charisma.

[tmthforu94]

I remember knowing that Bush won the Presidency in 2000, but I don't remember the details. I remember voting for Bush in 1st grade in a mock election. One person voted for Gore, and she said it was because "she thought he was cute."  My best memory is in 2002. When I woke up the next morning, my Dad said "I have good news and bad news. The bad news, is that Tim Shallenburger lost to Sebelius for Governor. The good news is that Jim Talent won the Senate race in Missouri."

It has to show how nerdy you are when you care about a neighboring state's Senate race at the age of 8.

[tpfkaw]

1996.  I remember that Bob Dole lost, even though my dad voted for him.  A sharp crack in the edifice of father's infallibility . . .

[fezzyfestoon]

OH NO, I remember voting for Bill Clinton in 2nd grade.

[AndrewTX]

Sadly, the 1988 election. Shoot me now.

[The Mikado]

I have extremely vague memories about 1992.  I don't remember election night 1994, but I do remember waking up the next morning to see my parents devastated by Richards losing.  The first of many bad memories from George W. Bush.

[Mint]

1996 is really the first election I can remember. And yes, I remember casting a mock vote for Dole. I blame my parents.

[tpfkaw]

1996 is really the first election I can remember. And yes, I remember casting a mock vote for Dole. I blame my parents.

Dole is probably the 2nd-closest any presidential candidate has come to your views, after Hoover.

[Mint]

1996 is really the first election I can remember. And yes, I remember casting a mock vote for Dole. I blame my parents.

Dole is probably the 2nd-closest any presidential candidate has come to your views, after Hoover.

Uh, what? Even Perot would have been a much better fit.

[Keystone Phil]

I remember the morning after the 1999 Mayoral election. I asked my Mom if our candidate won. He barely lost. I remember being disappointed but I wasn't really into politics yet. Four years later, I'd be working against the man that won that election. About eleven years after that 1999 election, I'd be one of his students and actually getting to work with and like him personally.

The first election night I remember was 2000. Talk about a tense night. The beginning of the night was terrible. Pennsylvania and Florida (at first) going to Gore seemed to kill our night. My Dad changed the channel for a few minutes to non-election coverage. When he switched back, we saw Tennessee called for Bush. That was the most exciting part of the night.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

My first election night memory was with the returns in 2004. I had no clue  how the electoral system worked or anything, but I remember it. From what I recall, Bush won.

[patrick1]

I remember it being a kind of a big deal that Geraldine Ferrero was running for Vice President in 84. Probably because she had given my mother some legal/life advice several years prior. I was only 10 in the 88 election, but remember a good deal from the campaign.  Much to my grandmothers' dismay, I was a little Republican and quite pleased at the result.

[big bad fab]

France, 1981.... And I was happy, then !

[Countess Anya of the North Parish]

Having my game boy stolen. and this guy who was doing the whole election party ran out and got me a new one. will never forget him.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

France, 1981.... And I was happy, then !

Obviously, you used to be one of the cool guys back then

[dead0man]

1996 is really the first election I can remember. And yes, I remember casting a mock vote for Dole. I blame my parents.

Dole is probably the 2nd-closest any presidential candidate has come to your views, after Hoover.

My last Republican Presidential vote.

I remember seeing Reagan/Bush signs in 1980 and wondering why the owner of the Cardinals was going to be Vice President (hey...I was 7).  The first one I paid attention to would have been in '88.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

US: Watching Bill Clinton's '92 victory speech on the news after getting home from school

Australia: I think... the very close 1990 election.

[Dancing with Myself]

The first election I remember was 2000, i was supporting Bush because my parents were. My mom was  Clinton fan while my dad was a hardcore republican. It was an odd time, but we was all happy Bush won.

My first UK election I watched was this year's, which was a day before my birthday. So i stayed up late and watched it on C-SPAN. That was memorable and interesting to say the least, i was cheering for the Conservatives the whole night.