A vote makes a difference; it allows you to choose your representatives and have a say on issues that impact you. And on May 7, 2024, the much-awaited voting day, people across Goa went out to make that difference by casting their votes.
Rushing to reach the Sucorro Panchayat and hoping to be the first to cast her vote, even as early as 7.30 am, Amita Salatry found herself to be the fourth in line. “I feel proud to vote and I feel everyone should vote. Being a citizen of India and Goa it’s our duty to vote,” Salatry, who despite her tight schedule, ensured she cast her vote, said.
Pramod Keni had a similar feeling. “As a responsible citizen, today we have our vote to preserve the long cherished and world’s largest constitutional democracy, so that the right people are elected to ensure equality, sovereignty and integrity of our motherland.”
Just like in other parts of Goa, the voting scene at Porvorim involved a significant level of political engagement and voter turnout, with residents waiting to cast their vote during the early part of the day.
Another resident from Porvorim, Mohandas Polle, decided to come early along with his wife who had recently undergone surgery.
“There was no security at the gate to open and let the vehicle in, it was a slight inconvenience since both of us are senior citizens,” he said, expressing his disappointment. But thanks to the wheelchair facility made available at the Holy Family School polling booth, they managed to cast their votes.
In addition to the wheelchairs, there were e-rickshaws at the voters' disposal for those who needed a pick and drop from their residence. All they needed to do was contact the panchayat and an e-rickshaw was sent to their residence.
Furthermore, all the polling booths in Porvorim were covered by pandals, and coolers ensured that those in queues didn’t face any inconvenience due to the scorching heat. Besides water, refreshments were provided to voters from 10 am onwards.
“My wife and I were in and out of the polling booth in around 15 minutes despite us being in the middle of the line,” said Jeffrey from Socorro, lauding the polling staff’s efficiency. But youngster Tejal Patel had a different take on this year’s arrangement.
“It’s a little inconvenient with the separate lines as the staff has to accommodate the senior citizens and the general public is seen waiting in the line for quite a while, unlike the previous years where the queue for general public was just one and a separate line for senior citizens,” compared Tejal.
But even the Lok Sabha elections didn’t manage to bring in the bustle in the otherwise quiet village of Divar. There was a hush as roads remained empty with just a few general stores open and villagers going about their daily errands.
A few metres from the polling station, at the Sao Matias Panchayat, a local lady parked her tiny van at her usual spot and sold veggies. Handing over a bag of produce to her buyer, she couldn’t help asking a fellow villager, ‘Ekkai velolo’ (took this one along too), pointing to that person’s grandson.
After having cast her vote, walking home along with her little grandson on the nearby road, the woman responded instantly, “Voi, aatam mamik sodta tho,” (Yes, he is looking for his mother now), struggling to keep him along as he turned to look out for his mother who was still standing in queue at the polling station.
One could feel the May heat even as early as 9.45 am, with very few people in the two queues, managing to walk straight inside, ink their fingers and cast their votes, without waiting for long. Maybe that’s why not many seemed to care about the refreshments that remained in their packs at a corner.
“It was hilarious, I was trying to control my laughter,” said Gabriella (name changed on request), as she narrated the scene as she stood in line to cast her vote. In front of her was a senior citizen who had mistakenly bought her grandson’s time zone power card instead of her voting card. “Luckily she managed to find her Aadhaar card copy on her phone,” she said.
As the day progressed and as people walked in and out to vote, it did seem that very few people turned out to vote, but maybe not everyone got the day off. Like Ulrica Cabral after her job, managed to cast her vote later at around 2.20 pm. “I voted for change, peace and equality,” she responded when asked what she voted for this year.
Whether they’d have that village road tarred, that hospital in their vicinity built, development that doesn’t cost the environment or their voices never muted, every vote cast today will decide the future of even the smallest village across the state and country. And people from all walks of life collectively made that decision realising just what’s at stake.
