Despite youngsters, women, senior citizens and families coming together to exercise their franchise on Thursday, Chennai South constituency recorded a low voter turnout on the whole.
The constituency experienced a 58.14% turnout as of 7 p.m. However, the polling began at a brisk pace with a steady stream of voters between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Many booths even experienced close to 30% voter turnout.
Sans booth slips
Voters who did not possess booth slips found it tough as they could not find their names in the voters list.
In Anjugam Higher Secondary School polling station, the Presiding Officer had to resort to the use of the Election Commission website to find the names of voters in order to allow them to cast their votes.
First-time voters, mostly in their first or second year in college, turned out in groups, excited to finally be able to have their say in the elections of the world’s largest democracy.
Several booths in Saidapet and West Mambalam also witnessed a good turnout of women voters. A group of senior women appreciated the VVPAT arrangement.
“We could see the symbol we voted for. It gave us confidence that the vote was cast to the candidate that we actually voted for,” said a senior voter.
Polling in several stations also experienced delays when newly relocated voters or new voters couldn’t find their names on the voters’ list.
