It was the thrill of having a say in the democratic process that brought first-time voters in large numbers to polling booths on Thursday. Many had arrived very early in the day at polling booths to ink their index finger. Some even ensured that their friends too voted.
Yamini Venkatesan, 20, a resident of Purasawalkam, said she ensured that her friends too voted since every vote counted.
“There are some things that I want to change; for instance, I want NEET to be abolished. So, if we want a change, we have to come out and vote,” she added.
Nineteen-year-old S.L. Shruthi, who was at the polling station by 6.45 a.m., and was the third person to vote there, did not fail to take a selfie of her inked finger.
First-time voters like S. Nancy of Chidambaram were filled with hope for a transparent administration and more employment opportunities for the youth. She said that she now had the right to participate in the democratic process. “I hope that the new government would make former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s vision to make India a developed country a reality,” she said.
Kolathur resident G.P. Priyanka said: “I could cast my vote within an hour even though the booths had long queues. It was good to confirm with VVPAT machine.”
Elders advice
S. Nivedhithya of Coimbatore, who voted at the Thiyagi N.G. Ramaswamy Memorial Hr. Sec. School, said she learnt how to go about voting from websites and asking elders in the family. She said she voted keeping in mind women’s safety and issues that concerned the welfare of the State. P. Santhosh Prabhu of Singanallur said that his father Palanisamy asked him to look at issues that candidates advanced in their campaigns before arriving at a decision to vote.
(Reporting by K. Lakshmi and Sunitha Sekar in Chennai, S. Prasad in Cuddalore, M. Karthik and M. Soundariya Preetha in Coimbator)
