People of all ages line up in queues despite scorching summer sun
The scorching summer sun of the hottest day of the season in Punjab was no deterrent as a continuous stream of voters throughout the day flowed to the polling booths in the State, resulting in a high polling percentage.
Crossing the previous mark of 70 per cent during 2009 lok Sabha polls, the polling this time witnessed a record turnout, matching the expectations of the Election Commission which has set the target of 80 per cent.
Barring certain incidents of violent in couple of places, the voting process went off peacefully in almost all the districts.
People of all ages were lined up in queues despite temperature 41 degrees during after the noon. Many voters, in an apparent attempt to save themselves from the Sun God queued up even before 7 am at many polling stations in Mohali, and Kharar. After noon, the polling rate dropped due to hot weather but gained momentum after 3 pm.
Exhilaration and excitement among the first-time voters, to participate in the democratic system for the first time, was manifested in terms of their presence in huge numbers at the polling booth across the State to exercise their franchise.
“I am casting my vote for the first time…this is so much fun…we all should come forward…this is our responsibility,” said Shruti, 19-year-old BSc student flaunting her voter card and inked finger after casting her vote.
Her brother, 25-year-old Manish chipped in, “If we don’t participate in this democratic process, and get our fingers’ inked with this blue mark, we don’t have any right to point fingers at those governing us.”
For the first time, the Election Commission has taken an initiative to appreciate the first-time voters for exercising their franchise by awarding them with the appreciation certificates.
“Appreciation certificates have been presented by many Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Returning Officers. In many districts, DCs have arranged a ‘coffee with DC’ like things, or giving surprise gifts to the early birds, and many have offered various discounts at restaurants, shops…So, while some steps are standard thing applied in all districts, some DCs have taken initiative at their own level to enthuse voters,” the State’s Additional Chief Electoral Officer B Purushartha told The Pioneer.
Among the young voters, corruption, employment and inflation remained the top issues on the basis of which they have pushed the EVM button in favour of candidates of their choice. As the Aam Aadmi Party seems to be famous among the young voters for taking up corruption issue head on, their seniors believed that casting vote in their favour would be a “waste”.
Participating with the same zeal and enthusiasm as that of youngsters, the senior citizens voted in favour of having Stable Government.
“Everyone is talking about the same issue, be it from Congress or BJP…all that India needs at this time is a Stable Government. We have seen what AAP has done in Delhi…here the clear fight is between the Congress and Akali-BJP,” said Rakesh Singh, Mohali Phase-I resident.
The electors in the urban areas were well aware of the NOTA (none of the above) button on the electronic voting machines, many of their rural counterparts expressed surprise and looked at you with questioning eyes when asked about the same.
They questioned repeatedly as what the NOTA button mean, and where they would find it.
At the same time, the electors appreciated the Punjab Election Commission’s efforts of setting up ‘model polling booths’ covering almost all the polling stations. “Merely 150 or something polling booths would be there which were not developed as ‘model’ ones. Here, facilities like drinking water, washrooms, ramps and wheelchairs for the handicapped or the senior citizens were provided. These stations also have banners, posters welcoming voters giving them a good feeling while coming to cast their votes,” said Purushartha.
In one of such polling station in Mohali, school students of Class XII were seen helping out the senior citizens by providing them water, assisting them to the booths. “It’s great experience. I am enjoying…though I can’t cast my vote this election, but will do the next time when I’ll be 18,” said Karanveer.
The enthusiasm of the voters can be gauged by the fact that defying all handicaps and barricades, they reached their polling booths to decide their future. Eighty-two-year-old retired Punjab police cop reached his polling booth in Mataur notwithstanding severe knee pains and in the absence of any wheelchair there.
At the same polling station, 32-year-old handicapped Satnam too flashed a proud smile after casting his ballot.