To Vote or Not to Vote

 To vote or not to vote- this was never a dilemma for yours truly ; for I pride myself on being a model citizen of the world’s largest democracy. This sentiment prompted me to apply for my name to be included in the voter list as soon as I turned eighteen. The process was rather seamless and I got my Voter ID card in due time. This was the year 2023. Cut to the present, when SIR or the Special Intensive Revision of the Voter List is taking place in different parts of the country, including in my city.

The process for this exercise, which builds on the 2002 voters roll, was very simple, with the BLO of our municipality collecting the completed forms and supporting documents from the residents and uploading them to update the list. Seamless , or so it seemed when my form, appended with my almost hot-off-the-stove Voter ID that clearly states my year of birth as 2005, was approved and my name appeared on the first draft (believe it or not!) Of the Voters List. I was visibly impressed at how streamlined the entire process was, but the sentiment was rather short-lived, for I soon got a notice for ‘SIR Hearing’ . The reason stated was , ‘Missing 2002 documents’! I could barely believe my ears, even as the BLO gleefully took a selfie of her and me holding the notice while looking visibly confused! The BLO then asked me to go over to the BBMP office specified in the notice , on the given date and time, with the requisite documents for the ‘hearing’- a term that is often used in legal context which possibly means to present one’s side of the story- a term that left me visibly confused; for I did not exist in 2002 is not an opinion, but a fact! The crazy side of me made it’s presence felt by reminding me that I could consider performing a seance or past life regression session at the BBMP Office to give them information about my whereabouts in 2002, but my sane side prevailed and I decided against it, and instead, chose to go down to the BBMP office and submit documents establishing my date of birth and age, on the date specified by them.

This ‘entertaining’ incident left me with a thought. Technology has significantly simplified our lives. Standing in queue to pay utility bills, I am told, used to be the norm till two decades ago. This is something that I have never witnessed, for all the payments happen online, oftentimes automatically at a designated time of the month. I am told that banks, especially the nationalised ones, were places that attracted long queues of people waiting to deposit or withdraw money. All that I know is the use of my laptop to login and complete my banking transactions online at a time that is convenient for me. I can book my doctor appointment or order necessities using apps on my phone. Would it be so hard to upload details of my credentials to update the voter list from the comfort of my home?

The true power of a democracy lies in the fact that every single voice matters. Making the process of exercising your voice seamless matters just as much in order to ensure optimal people participation; and this, dear reader, is the thought that I want to leave you with!