First-time voters ensure that they make it count
First-time voters made their voices heard loud and clear in the Lok Sabha election on Friday. Capturing the images of their indelible ink-stained £ngers, they also recognised their signi£cant role in shaping the political landscape.
Ananthika, 19, of Periyar Nagar, Chennai, emphasised her independent decision making. “I voted without the inuence of my parents. My choice was based on the candidate who demonstrated the most commitment in my constituency,” she said. First-time voters, like Idhaya Thangam, who had been unable to vote in the previous elections owing to overseas studies, eagerly came out to vote. “I had been waiting for this day. I feel very proud of having cast my vote and everyone should exercise their franchise,” said the 26-yearold, who cast her vote at her native place, Mallankinaru, in Virudhunagar.
Rinisha, a first-time voter.
Ashwin Kumar, a 23year-old £rst-time voter, developed political awareness through discussions with his friends. Stressing the collective responsibility to vote, he said: “Integrity, competence and empathy are the qualities I looked for in the candidates, and also the alignment with personal beliefs on key issues such as healthcare and education.”
For £rst-time voters like Nityashri, of Anna Nagar in Chennai, early in the morning was the best time to vote, avoiding the searing heat. “Since turning 18, I have been fascinated by the fact that my opinion is important. The whole process of voting was seamless because my college conducted a mock election for £rst-timers,” she said.
Oviee, a £rst-time voter from Tiruchi, didn’t have speci£c expectations but was determined to exercise her franchise at Seva Sangam Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Tiruchi.
Febba, of Padmavathipuram in Tiruppur, said, “I waited for this moment, as I always thought that voting is the fundamental duty of any citizen. The experience of voting in the Lok Sabha election is exciting, and I constantly followed all the parties’ campaigns.”
Vishal, another £rsttime voter, said, “I felt the gravitas of what was happening in the booths, seeing all those people gathered there for one single purpose — to make active e¢orts for a better tomorrow.”
(With inputs from Nahla Nainar in Tiruchi, S. Sundar in Virudhunagar, and V. S. Palaniappan in Coimbatore.)