Voting experience
The excited faces of first-timers, the curious faces of old-timers, the flashing of cameras in selfie booths after voting, the posse of policemen standing guard, volunteers guiding voters, the beep of the EVM after voting and a voter’s pride after leaving the booth with an inked finger was the scene in 21 States and Union Territories after the first phase of the general election. Despite a strong support system in the form of ambulances and wheelchairs, shamianas to protect voters from the heat, some of the elderly experienced discomfort. There were also cases of EVMs malfunctioning, the absence of free last-mile connectivity to polling booths and political tussles outside polling wards. As the Election Commission of India tries to achieve the goal of 100% turnout by raising awareness using a variety of platforms, it is important to create a more conducive and convenient atmosphere at polling booths.
R. Srivatsan,
