Nineteen-year-old Soumya got her voter ID card within two months of applying to be enrolled in the voters’ list. So, on Monday, the final year biotechnology student walked into the polling station at Selvapuram North with her parents. They had explained to her the process for casting vote and hence she was not scared. But, was a “little excited” as it was the first elections that she was taking part.
Across the district, hundreds of first-time voters came with their parents or friends to exercise their franchise. At Karumbukadai in the city , 20-year-old Sapna Yasmin came to the polling station on Monday morning with two of her friends and was looking out for the polling booth for her locality.
At Singapathi polling station, Sathya, a 20-year-old working woman said, “I applied for a voters’ ID only recently. I am quite excited to vote for the first time.”
Some first timers were well-informed and did their home work by checking the background and credentials of the candidates to the best possible extent. But, for a good number of them their choice was that of their parents. While some took this as guidance, a few first timers called it obedience.
K. Dournesh, a 20-year-old dental college student who cast his vote in Singanallur Assembly constituency, follows politics regularly. “I gather information about the candidates through the social media, discussed with friends and made an informed decision,” he said.
“I am both excited and nervous about voting for the first time”, says E. Maheshwari a 20-year-old from Kottaimedu. Not having followed politics regularly her preference was that of her mother. “Next time it will be my choice,” she said.
A.S. Arjun and his cousin R. Anjali from Race Course applied for the voters’ identity card last June. While Arjun got his identity card a couple of month ago and could cast his vote for the first time on Monday, it was a disappointing day for his cousin.
“I did not get my identity card. I tried my luck coming here and checking in person if my name was in the voters’ list. I will apply for my voters’ identity card and will cast my vote in the local body elections – later this year,” the arts college student said.
At a polling booth in Vadavalli in the Coimbatore North Assembly constituency, G. Anushiya said that as part of the youth brigade she wanted her vote to play a part in bring about a positive transformation in Tamil Nadu, which in the past had seen the power swing from one party to another. When she pressed the button she wanted to in the electronic voting machine, the button got stuck and there was no sound for a second or two. “I was scared for a second or two until I heard the beep.” M. Surya, a faculty at a private engineering institution, said that she was voting for the first time because there was widespread awareness urging voters to vote without fail. “I could see hoardings every where. That plus the meeting in the institution made to vote.”
A majority of the first-time voters, however, said that before taking a decision, they listened to speeches, watched and heard advertisements and also read about promises and leaders as they wanted to take an informed decision. They also said that they were keen to know about political parties’ stand on education, agriculture and poverty eradication.
Across the district, hundreds of first-time voters came with their parents or friends to exercise their franchise. At Karumbukadai in the city , 20-year-old Sapna Yasmin came to the polling station on Monday morning with two of her friends and was looking out for the polling booth for her locality.
At Singapathi polling station, Sathya, a 20-year-old working woman said, “I applied for a voters’ ID only recently. I am quite excited to vote for the first time.”
Some first timers were well-informed and did their home work by checking the background and credentials of the candidates to the best possible extent. But, for a good number of them their choice was that of their parents. While some took this as guidance, a few first timers called it obedience.
K. Dournesh, a 20-year-old dental college student who cast his vote in Singanallur Assembly constituency, follows politics regularly. “I gather information about the candidates through the social media, discussed with friends and made an informed decision,” he said.
“I am both excited and nervous about voting for the first time”, says E. Maheshwari a 20-year-old from Kottaimedu. Not having followed politics regularly her preference was that of her mother. “Next time it will be my choice,” she said.
A.S. Arjun and his cousin R. Anjali from Race Course applied for the voters’ identity card last June. While Arjun got his identity card a couple of month ago and could cast his vote for the first time on Monday, it was a disappointing day for his cousin.
“I did not get my identity card. I tried my luck coming here and checking in person if my name was in the voters’ list. I will apply for my voters’ identity card and will cast my vote in the local body elections – later this year,” the arts college student said.
At a polling booth in Vadavalli in the Coimbatore North Assembly constituency, G. Anushiya said that as part of the youth brigade she wanted her vote to play a part in bring about a positive transformation in Tamil Nadu, which in the past had seen the power swing from one party to another. When she pressed the button she wanted to in the electronic voting machine, the button got stuck and there was no sound for a second or two. “I was scared for a second or two until I heard the beep.” M. Surya, a faculty at a private engineering institution, said that she was voting for the first time because there was widespread awareness urging voters to vote without fail. “I could see hoardings every where. That plus the meeting in the institution made to vote.”
A majority of the first-time voters, however, said that before taking a decision, they listened to speeches, watched and heard advertisements and also read about promises and leaders as they wanted to take an informed decision. They also said that they were keen to know about political parties’ stand on education, agriculture and poverty eradication.