Elections are the integral part of a vibrant democracy. This year elections in India are being held in seven phases from 19 April to 01 June. The result is to be announced on 04 June. Voting in Noida was scheduled in the second phase, on 26 April. Being aware of my right to vote, I was anxiously waiting for the voting day.
My polling booth was at Nilgiri School, near the Jain Temple, F-Block, Sector-50, Noida. I reached there with my wife at about 11.00 am. There were many stalls of different political parties which were giving slips indicating the details of voters in the Electoral Roll. I went to a comparatively empty one. They gave me a slip that mentioned my name, Serial number in voting list, EPIC No, age, address, Polling Booth’s name, etc. Since I am 83 years and walk with the help of a stick, the policeman at the gate asked me very politely, if I needed at wheel chair? I told him no and that I should try to walk as much as possible. He appreciated my answer and showed a sign of thumps up. Here, I met a few of my friends who also came to vote. Arrangement for water was there.
A volunteer guided us to room No. 2 where I was to cast my vote. There the Polling Officer found some discrepancy in the slip given to me; the details did not tally with the one in electoral rolls. However, she allowed me to vote on seeing my other documents necessary to cast vote. Total time taken in the whole process was approximately fifteen minutes.
However, I faced some problems also. There were a few stairs without railing; climbing them was a difficult task. My son helped me to climb those stairs. Similarly, while going out, it was a different route with stairs to go down. When I finally went out realized that my car was at quite a distance. My son went and brought the car while I remained standing in the sun. There was not sufficient space to park the vehicles resulting in haphazard parking by visitors.
Looking at the stupendous task of conducting general elections in the country which has about 100 crores voters, I can say that the overall arrangements and experience at the polling booth was quite satisfactory.
