53% Lottegollahalli voters shrug off hassles, turn out for re-polling

As many as 53.32% of voters exercised their franchise in the re-polling held in both number 2 at Gandhi Vidyalaya School in Lottegollahalli, Hebbal Assembly constituency, until 6 pm on Monday. The re-polling was necessitated as electronic voting machines had malfunctioned on May 12.

Shrugging off inconvenience, the electorate, from senior citizens to first-time voters, lined up in large numbers to cast their vote. Jagadish Shenoy and Shakuntala, in their 70s, were among those who reached the polling booth early in the morning. “We can’t expect any good from the authorities. We are used to it. It’s difficult to come out and vote but voting is the only right we have as citizens. So, we have come here,” Shenoy said.

Abba Patil, a resident of 1st Main Road in Lottegollahalli, said he had come at least four times on May 12 to vote but the faulty EVMs drove him away. “But today, the Election Commission has given a chance to vote. I hope people will not be inconvenienced this way again,” he added.

A few voters complained about the re-polling date and said Sunday could have been a better option. “The Election Commission should have scheduled the re-polling for Sunday because many people here go to work and it’s difficult for them to rush back to vote. I decided to vote early in the morning,” Pavithra, a software engineer, said.

First-time voters said they didn’t expect the authorities to be “so negligent” about the EVMs. “It wasn’t our mistake. Nonetheless, the experience of voting was good. I feel responsible,” said Ashwini, a college student and first-time voter.

DH News Service