Thursday, May 7, 2009

Experience of a first time voter :)

Got up at 6.30 AM (Yes, I had a 10 AM meeting so had to rush..). Took bath. Prodded my dad to show me the way to the polling booth. Walked in. Confirmed the name of 'my candidate' (I believe in voting for 'Party', specially during Lok Sabha elections). Like a child being admitted to a new school, I was looking around for directions. From the slip counter - to the name list one- to the Madras ink one... and finally I go there press the button. Yippee!! I have voted!!

I am in my mid-20s but never got a chance to vote, there was an year's delay in getting the election I-card, then my name was missing from the rolls of the next elections, then moved to Bangalore for a 4 year stint... this year, at last I voted....

By the way, I think we should have some kind of postal ballot system; at least for students who are away from their home towns, people who have just shifted to a new place (they should have the right to vote atleast for their old constituency till they get a new one).
If I try to look around, 95% of my friends in Bangalore are not from Bangalore - so their votes are lost - another about 75% of my friends in Mumbai are not from Mumbai - their votes are lost too...
Think about the students in IITs, RECs, IIMs etc... this is the cream of the nation. But they cant vote... quoting an example, if a student happens to do her engineering and masters in another city, and happens to work there for 2 years after that.... a good 4+2+2 years of her voting go in vain.... No surprise, political parties don't care about the 'educated' youth....

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