Many first-timers cast their vote

Voters stand in a long queue as they wait to exercise their franchise at Needamangalam in Tiruvarur District. Photo: M. Srinath

Many first time voters exercised their franchise in the Assembly elections held on Wednesday in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts.

The voters said they were “excited, happy and that they fulfilled their responsibility as democratic citizens.”

Eighteen-year-old Gayathri goes to college in Chennai and cast her vote at the Government High School in Kandiyur, Thiruvaiyaru constituency. Asked about her feelings as a first-time voter, she said, “I am excited”. S.Deepa, a student of SASTRA University came to cast her vote at Srinivasa Rao Higher Secondary school at Thiruvaiyaru. “People can bring about changes through elections. I am interested in politics,” she said.

Karthika, a student of Dayananda Saraswathi College of Arts and Science at Manjakudi in Tiruvarur district said that it was her duty to vote in elections. She cast her vote at a school at Mukundanur in Tiruvarur district.

Ranjitha, another first time voter and a student SASTRA University said that she would exercise the option of 49 (O) as she was not happy with any of the candidates contesting in Thanjavur assembly constituency. She came to vote at Umamaheswaranar College at Karanthai in Thanjavur.

Mohammed Sultan Ali, a college student said, “It is our democratic right to vote. We should not miss it.” Nearly all the voters had booth slips issued by the election commission.