Lok Sabha elections: What drove first-time voters to polling booths

COIMBATORE: Almost every booth in Coimbatore district saw a good turnout of first-time voters on Tuesday . Driven by the need to make their voices heard and opinions registered, college students turned out in large numbers to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections.

The excitement and opportunity to finally flash their colourful voter identity cards and exercise a right they only saw their parents and grandparents exercise earlier also contributed to the turnout.

Haran, an IIT-Madras student came down to Coimbatore on Thursday, to cast his vote. The fact that he had not got his voter ID card or booth slip did not deter him.

“I applied for my voter ID card and for inclusion on the voter list on March 24. I think my vote would contribute to choosing the next leader. And it is important we vote, instead of sitting at home and complaining about things,” he said.

“This is also a big election between two alliances. It is important we make our voices heard,” he added.

Naveen Kumar, who is studying in PSG Polytehcnic College, said, “I truly believe that the candidate I voted for will match up to my expectations”.

Some youngsters do not expect their votes to bring a drastic change in their lives but say they did not want to waste their vote. “I did not want to see my vote go waste, or my name deleted from the voter list for the next elections,” said fourth-year B Tech student A Ashmitha.

“Also, I did not want to vote NOTA because that is also a waste,” she said. “Even if too many NOTA votes lead to a cancellation of elections, the same parties will only contest again and win,” she said.

A large group of youngsters wanted to simply experience ‘voting’.

“I registered to be included on the voters’ list almost two years ago and have been waiting to cast my vote for the first time,” said 22-year-old Saranya who came with four of her friends to vote.

“I wanted to understand how it feels to vote and understand what happens inside a polling booth. I truly feel like an adult with a responsibility,” she said.