NT Reporter
Panaji
Ninety-three-year-old Kanta Amlani arrived at a polling station in a wheelchair in Panaji on Wednesday to cast her vote in the elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), determined to exercise her franchise despite her age and limited mobility. She was one of many senior citizens who stepped out during the civic polls held on Wednesday. Across polling stations, elderly residents turned out steadily through the day, particularly in Wards 8 and 9, which have a large population of senior citizens.
Local resident Ratnakar Lele said steps were taken to make the process easier for elderly voters. According to him, some wards were divided into smaller sections to manage crowds and reduce waiting time. Ward number 8 was divided into Ward 8 and 8A, while Ward number 9 was divided into Ward 9 and 9A.
“The division helped reduce long queues and allowed voters, particularly the elderly, to cast their votes with greater ease.The arrangements were good. The government took proper and convenient steps for the citizens. The ballot voting system is helpful, especially for those who are seventy or eighty years old, as they are assisted with the ballot papers,” Lele said.
He also said voters were choosing candidates based on how they perceived them rather than on party affiliation. “Whoever is the candidate should be a good candidate. Voting happens based on how people perceive them and not just because of a party. Whoever wins should think well for Panaji,” he said.
For some senior citizens, however, the voting process also presented minor challenges. Seventy-nine-year-old Theresa Warlikar said election officials insisted on original identity documents and did not accept photocopies or documents stored on mobile phones.
She said many elderly voters may keep copies of their documents on their phones and may not always remember where they have kept the originals. “I had a photo copy and even the document on my mobile, but they still wanted the original ID,” she said.
Eighty-four-year-old Remi said she hoped the election would lead to improvements in parking management in the city. She said vehicles were often parked outside her house by visitors to nearby areas, making it difficult for residents to enter or leave their homes.
“This should be taken care of first,” she said.
Another voter, 84-year-old Beatriz, said she hoped the city would become cleaner. “The city is in complete mess. It should be cleaner as before,” she said.
