---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a…"
description: "\"Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a priority. It wasn't something I took much interest in. We weren't watching the news or trying to get caught up ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg"
---

#  Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a priority. It…

![“Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a priority. It wasn't something I took much interest in. We weren't watching the news or trying to get caught up on the legislation, and candidates' opinions and what they're going to try to bring to America.” quote by Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg)

> “Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a priority. It wasn't something I took much interest in. We weren't watching the news or trying to get caught up on the legislation, and candidates' opinions and what they're going to try to bring to America.”

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Youth disengagement from civic duties can stem from lack of awareness and perceived relevance.

**In simple terms:** Young people often ignore voting.

Key Takeaway

Stay informed and vote early.

Themes

civic engagement political apathy education

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- high school
- college
- first-time voters
- community meetings

Key Concepts

democracy responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- Why does voting matter to you?
- What steps can you take to stay informed?

A Different Perspective

Information overload can discourage participation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[18 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18-years-234310/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Bring America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-america-243147/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Voting 18](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-18-560205/) [Wasn Priority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-priority-2352138/)

## Related quotes

> [I have voted for a Republican for president ever since I was voting and since I was 18 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/i-have-voted-for-a-republican-for-president-ever-since-i-was-voting/)

[Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/)

> [There are women for whom family is a priority, and they do it. It just wasn't as much a priority for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/there-are-women-for-whom-family-is-a-priority-and-they-do-it-it-just/)

[Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/)

> [When I was young, basketball wasn't my No. 1 priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/when-i-was-young-basketball-wasn-t-my-no-1-priority/)

[Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/)

> [Whoever will be president, if they wish to save America from the Wrath of God and the course that America is on, which will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/whoever-will-be-president-if-they-wish-to-save-america-from-the-wrath/)

[Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/)

> [When I was president, I knew exactly what I wanted to do every day to bring America together and create a greater sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/when-i-was-president-i-knew-exactly-what-i-wanted-to-do-every-day-to/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [There is a sense of feeling larger than your own life when you're in some common mission together. You have to hope it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/there-is-a-sense-of-feeling-larger-than-your-own-life-when-you-re-in/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [We are going to have to do some real soul searching as a country and try to bring America together, because it is divided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/we-are-going-to-have-to-do-some-real-soul-searching-as-a-country-and/)

[Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/)

> [Mr. Trump is God's man to dismantle, to upset, and to bring America - though he wants to make her great again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/mr-trump-is-god-s-man-to-dismantle-to-upset-and-to-bring-america/)

[Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/)

> [We want to bring back the America where Republicans and principles and true ideas of freedom rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-robinson/we-want-to-bring-back-the-america-where-republicans-and-principles/)

[Mark Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-robinson/)

> [Well, let me tell you, after three years of Obama, we are hopeless and changeless, and we need Mitt Romney to bring us back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/well-let-me-tell-you-after-three-years-of-obama-we-are-hopeless-and/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

> [We need bold leadership to bring America back to its first principles of diversity inclusion and opportunity for everyone in every ZIP Code, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perez/we-need-bold-leadership-to-bring-america-back-to-its-first-principles/)

[Tom Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perez/)

> [And I think that, at some point, I am, as John Lewis and many others, are a bridge-builder. The goal is to bring America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/and-i-think-that-at-some-point-i-am-as-john-lewis-and-many-others-are/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [If you stay on the air for 18 years, people know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/if-you-stay-on-the-air-for-18-years-people-know-you/)

[Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/)

## More by Mike Conley Jr

> [In Memphis we don't talk. We ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-we-don-t-talk-we-ball/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [If I had a choice, I'd say I'm right-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-had-a-choice-i-d-say-i-m-right-handed/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I think I probably had to have been two or three when I fell in love with anything that bounced - any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-think-i-probably-had-to-have-been-two-or-three-when-i-fell-in-love/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I hate the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-hate-the-unknown/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I'm not one of those guys that's going to beat you over the head and just yell at you all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-that-s-going-to-beat-you-over-the-head-and/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [If I'm not an All-Star, maybe the next-best thing to it is to be a part of that weekend, take my family there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-m-not-an-all-star-maybe-the-next-best-thing-to-it-is-to-be-a/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I enjoy the fans recognizing me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-enjoy-the-fans-recognizing-me/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [Everybody needs to serve in their community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/everybody-needs-to-serve-in-their-community/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfish-teammate/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [In Memphis I always had the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-i-always-had-the-ball/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [Well, Memphis isn't the most active city, but we find ways to have fun, whether it's going bowling, maybe to the movies, going out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/well-memphis-isn-t-the-most-active-city-but-we-find-ways-to-have-fun/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [Some people might feel like their vote doesn't matter but it really does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/some-people-might-feel-like-their-vote-doesn-t-matter-but-it-really/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [Painting, one arm gets tired, I'll use the other one and be just as effective. So, yeah, I've always used both arms. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/painting-one-arm-gets-tired-i-ll-use-the-other-one-and-be-just-as/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I just know when I'm tired, I can't act tired. If I'm sick or mad or upset we're in a slump, that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-just-know-when-i-m-tired-i-can-t-act-tired-if-i-m-sick-or-mad-or/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

> [I've never messed around with any fans. I've never yelled at anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-ve-never-messed-around-with-any-fans-i-ve-never-yelled-at-anybody/)

[Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

[Explore all 100 Mike Conley Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a priority. It wasn't something I took much interest in. We weren't watching the news or trying to get caught up on the legislation, and candidates' opinions and what they're going to try to bring to America.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike Conley Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a-priority-it-wasn-t-something/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a-priority-it-wasn-t-something/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mike-conley-jr-5914_america_voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a_1030596.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Voting when I was 18 years old wasn't a priority. It wasn't something I took much interest in. We weren't…” — Mike Conley Jr",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mike Conley Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Voting when I was 18 years...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a-priority-it-wasn-t-something/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/voting-when-i-was-18-years-old-wasn-t-a-priority-it-wasn-t-something/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
