First-timers vote for better education, job opportunities
SHIMLA :With better educational infrastructure and job opportunities on their mind, the youth, especially first-time voters turned up in huge numbers to cast their vote.
With 1.36 lakh first-time voters in the state, the election commission too had undertaken a number of drives to motivate them to exercise their franchise.
“Every political party talks about creating jobs but where are the opportunities. I am excited to cast the vote but not sure if the government will keep its promise,” says Isha Thakur, 20, a first-time voter of Thanedhar in Theog assembly segment.
While for some the hope for a better future was what drew them to the polling booth, for others it was the excitement about the electronic voting machine and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail which is being used in state for the first time.
“We are curious about the VVPAT system. I voted for a candidate of my choice but I don’t have any demand from him,” said Anshul Mehta, a first-time voter from Mashobra.
Another first-timer of the tribal Kinnaur district, Nisha Negi, said she voted with the hope of better educational and health facilities for her district.
Many young voters are also upset with the political parties for not giving adequate representation to youth voices.
“You will find hardly a young MLA or any MLA who thinks for the youth of the state,” says Harshit Sharma, a young voter from Sanjauli, who cast his vote early in the morning. “We study in college; we do not have a platform to raise our issues. Since our (youth voters’) number are high, we figure in the speeches of all parties but there is nothing on ground,” he added.
Chief electoral officer (CEO) Pushpender Rajput said teams from district administration had interacted with youth in many educational institutions to sensitise them about voting.