Excited kids visit pooling booths in Delhi with parents

New Delhi, May 13: Excited “future voters” accompanied their parents to pooling booths in the national capital to share the joy and satisfy their curiosity about the electoral process on Monday.

Holding their parents hands, children went inside polling stations and were excited to pose in photo kiosks set up at some booths.

Kritika Mehta, who voted in Greater Kailash, said it is not just important to take kids along to polling booths, but also talk to them about it beforehand.

“You should not only take your child with you when you vote, but you should also talk to him or her about what’s happening and why they should be excited to take part in the election process. Today they are excited, tomorrow we have to make them an engaged citizen. We have to begin before they are old enough to cast their own ballot,” she said.

Five-year-old Shweta Sethi, accompanied her grandparents to a polling booth in New Delhi and said she wanted to see a polling station after watching lots TV advertisements about elections.

“I have been seeing lot of advertisements on TV… I asked dadu (grandfather) about what election is. He then promised me to bring here when he casts his vote. My parents will also come in the later half to vote,” she said.

Dheeraj Srivastava, who voted in Safadarjung Enclave said, “My twin boys have been reading about elections and parliamentary system in their civics books. I also took them to watch Parliament proceedings once. Today I brought them with me so I can explain them the process.”

Three-year-old Dhriti was excited to see an EVM machine and took the ink mark on her mother’s fingers as a “design”.

“She does not understand what an EVM machine is and she called the voting mark on my finger a design. But I have brought her with me and I will now answer her queries and explain the process,” Dhriti’s father Chaitanya Arya said.

A few model polling stations also had a separate zone to entertain children as their parents went inside to cast their vote.

According to a polling officer at a booth in New Delhi, “They may not have a vote but children who accompanied their parents to polling booths today too were an excited lot with many curious ones firing queries at the elders who cast their vote.”

Excited about casting their votes under their chosen gender identity for the first time in general elections, the transgender voters in the national capital flaunted their inked fingers and expressed hope for a government which ensures them a better future.

This is the first time that transgenders are casting their votes under the category after Supreme Court had declared them as the “third gender” in 2014. Earlier they had to cast their votes as male or female.

For 32-year-old Janasheen, it was an incredible experience.

“I have voted before but this is the first time I am voting as a transgender, an identity which I am proud of now. I have also posted a selfie on my WhatsApp status with my inked finger,” Janasheen said.

Sapna Bai, a transgender who cast her vote in Matia Mahal said, “I am very happy that I can cast my vote as what I really am. I want a new government which thinks about us and also consider us equally on their agenda”.

18-year-old Dummy wanted her chosen government to ensure special toilets for transgenders.

“It is a progressive move that we have been identified as a third gender. While lot needs to be done for us, to begin with special toilets are a must for us,” she said.

A Tughlakabad resident, a transgender who did not wish to be identified, was happy to be exercising her franchise for the first time saying the society and the government has acknowledged their community as the third gender.

“We have been neglected repeatedly by consecutive governments for quite a long time. Our condition in the society is pathetic. We are still an outcast. People ridicule us and we are not even acknowledged. We have managed to secure this right after a long battle and will vote for the party which will work for out rights and for improving our condition,” the transgender said.

Another transgender said on the condition of anonymity, “political parties promise us lot of things — be it offering shelter homes or employment opportunities — but it is only for elections. We are part of the community. But as a responsible citizen, it is my right to vote which I have irrespective of the outcome.”

Voting is underway in all seven constituencies of Delhi Sunday.

According to Delhi Chief Electoral officer, a total of 660 transgenders were eligible to cast their vote besides 78,49,947 male and 64,21,283 female voters.