Wednesday, April 07, 2021

My Voting in Assembly Election and Vote Percentage

I cast my vote yesterday (April 6) for the 6th time in this lifetime since my first voting in 2009 general election in India. So far, I have voted in three general elections and three assembly elections each. So far, I have voted in three general elections and three assembly elections each. Though I earned the right to vote in 2003 and fetched my name on the voter list the following year, I started to vote only from the 2009 general election skipping the 2006 assembly election.

I started to use a wheelchair only in 2007, as before that, I could walk barely a few steps, so in that condition, I couldn't think of voting or visit the polling booth. My first polling experience is quite vivid, and I could still catch the images in memory when I look up or close the eyes, and it's the same booth I cast my vote in all the time. Though we shifted to different houses and addresses, my voting had always been at our native address, so it wasn't a problem each time, and I still use the voter ID I fetched for the first time - a b/w photo ID of me took in age less than 20.

We usually cast our vote in the afternoon to avoid the crowd and was in the same idea this time as well, but as my uncle insists, we polled in the late morning, and our polling booth was least crowded, so we quickly polled off. We were given gloves for the right hand after sanitizing the hands and masks made mandatory, and gladly everyone followed the rules despite the social distancing wasn't that satisfying.

The room allotted for us was smaller than last time, so they had to adjust the tables for my wheelchair to get close to the EVM (electronic voting machine), but still, it wasn't in a range I could reach; so, my father voted on my behalf on the symbol I already insist.

EVMs were started to use partially in India from 1998 to 2004, and from the 2004 general election, EVMs becomes a voting system in India in place of the ballot box.

Something that always annoys me after the polling was the question of whom I voted; though I don’t hesitate to say to whom I voted, those who inquire me don't open their mouth when it was their turn; and I don't care about it either; as they have voted at least than those who laze around complaining without doing a thing for the change.

Take the vote ratio in the capital Chennai; it is much lower than other districts in Tamil Nadu. We received less than 60% of the vote in the Assembly election, while the educationally and economically backward districts received more than 75% of the vote. What this really shows me is how indifferent and conscious we are to fulfill our democratic duty.

We (Chennai people) live cozily and get all the development and priorities in the first place, but we aren't even ready to vote in the election that takes place once in 3 or 5 years. People like me in a wheelchair could easily skip from voting, but I really wanted to vote not only because I like to do something for the society and to assert my right (at least this way), but also like to be an exemplar as well! I mostly choose my candidate from the individualistic notification for the volume rather than from the general manifesto his party or organization released to seize power.

10 comments:

Tom said...

...voting is an important civic duty.

Terra said...

I agree with you and don't understand people who don't vote. It is a privilege to vote. Of course when I see the election results here in the USA I sometimes wish a lot of those people didn't vote. Congratulations to you on doing the right thing and voting.

Ponniyinselvan/karthikeyan(1981-2005 ) said...

I appreciate .Great job done.Hats off

George said...

I'm happy to hear that you are voting in elections even if it is not always convenient to do so. I wish we could get more people to vote over here.

carol l mckenna said...

Congratulations on 'taking a stand' for what you believe and voting ~

Happy Week to you ~ Xo

Living moment by moment,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Bill said...

Every vote counts, glad you voted!

Anonymous said...

Every vote counts! Good for you for voting. I'm glad they were practicing COVID guidelines. Have a great week, Jeevan!

Elsie

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

voting is a reponsibility

Vetirmagal said...

Hi Jeevan, reading your blog after long years. Much had happened since.
Its nice to know that there are socially and politically aware people , like you. There is still hope for our country.

People have become selfish more and more.." nothing will affect me " is the attitude of middle classes . It will change only after many years,
Meanwhile we have to continue our lives.

Nancy Chan said...

It is the responsibility and right of every citizen to vote. Good for you for voting even though it may not be convenient for you.