Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Young voters seek information on polling process

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MAY 9. Young voters in Chennai will get a chance to have their say in choosing a government on Monday, but many of them feel that there are not many avenues to gather information about the polling process.

Getting their names registered in the electoral rolls was the first hurdle most faced. Bhavesh Shah, owner of a coffee pub in R.A. Puram said, "During previous elections, I filled up forms for inclusion of my name into voters' list. But I do not have my name listed there. I will go to the polling station tomorrow to check the rolls again".

Anu, research scholar, of Valmiki Nagar, said in the last election, she could not vote as names of all residents in a street was found missing from the rolls. Many of the young voters, including her did not know that 14 sets of documents could be furnished as proof of identity at the polling booths.

Media publicity, it seems, has not reached many people, said Abhishek D. Shah, a communication consultant. He was unaware that documents other than the electors' photo identity card could also be used as a proof of identity. He did not have any photographic proof of his existence in Chennai, but had his name in the family ration card.

"I think it defeats the purpose of a photo identity card." "Now that I know I can vote, I will," he said. Girish Ramdas, who runs a web portal, said he took voting as a responsibility. "I always vote with a hope that it will make a difference." However, for V. Roshini, operations manager in a private firm, it is more of exercising a right to choose though there is not much of a choice.

But first time voter, Neetha J of Stella Maris College, is excited. "This is the first time I am doing something new that gives me the feeling of having grown up."

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