India is in the midst of a General Election that many believe will be pivotal in deciding the future trajectory of the country. And the future belongs to the young! In the noise and hurly-burly of the elections, we often lose sight of the fact that it is the youth and the children who have the most at stake in a country’s future. But they know it and they want to be heard. Whether it is the climate activists everywhere or protesting students across university campuses in the US, young around the world are speaking up and making their voices heard.
18 million people are voting for the first time in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in India.The Election Commission of India as well as political parties have reached out to these first-time voters encouraging them to exercise their franchise and have a say in who forms the next government. The voting in Noida was held in Phase 2 on 26 April. We reached out to some first-time voters of Sector-93 to ask about their experience of voting and expectations from these elections.
Shrida Mahajan is awaiting the results of her Class 12 Board Exams and will start college soon. Excited to vote for the first time, she says, “Voting for the first time was a weirdly nerve-wracking experience. The officers employed to help you vote were extremely nice and eager to help out the first-timers yet I remember being extremely nervous as that was the moment I realised that I had a part to play in the country’s future. I can only hope that the party that forms the government this time, will do good for the country and improve the lives of the citizens that make up this beautifully diverse nation of India.”
Sara Daniel of Sector 93B turned 18 in January 2024 and was glad to receive her voter card just a few days before the elections. She accompanied her parents to the voting booth in Sec 82. Though the polling station was rather busy and the queues long, she found the process well-managed and efficient. As she “got inked” for the first time, she shares, “Having recently turned 18 and being a first-time voter, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness leading up to election day. Stepping into the polling station and casting my vote was a big and empowering moment for me. I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in participating in one of the biggest election processes in the world. I hope whoever forms the government respects the voices of all its citizens and works tirelessly to create a better future for all.”
Unlike the older voters, the first-time voters do not carry the baggage, or the memories, of the past. Their voting choices are shaped by their dreams, hopes, and aspirations for their future. We, the older voters, owe it to them and to every young person to vote for forward-looking representatives who stand for progressive, just, democratic, and constitutional values.
