First time voters prioritise reforms, job and education

Patna: Casting a vote for the first time is a moment of responsibility and civic pride for the youth — a generation that holds significant sway in this assembly election. For many first-time voters, the act of pressing the EVM button was a commitment to shaping the state’s future.

Many of them felt that issues like unemployment and education reforms should be taken up on a priority basis.Sonal Kumari of Sri Krishna Nagar, who studies outside the state, travelled over 500 km back to Patna to cast her vote. “I travelled over 500 km just to cast my vote, viewing it as my primary contribution to the state,” she said. She added that her priority is to select a representative who works hard to improve Bihar’s image outside the state.

“I should not feel inferior when I say I am from Bihar,” she said.Most first-time voters said they had made a careful and well-informed choice while voting. “If I complain later, I know I will also be a part of the system,” several of them said.Saksham Jaiswal of Boring Road believes his generation is focused “more on policies of the govt rather than the identity of the party and candidate, which was the focus of the previous generation.”

For him, tackling migration is the main issue. Similarly, Rajesh Kumar of Buddha Colony confirmed the dominant concerns of his peers, saying that for him, “education and employment are the most important issues.”Regarding the voting experience, first-time voters generally reported a supportive environment and smooth process at the booths. “Despite being a first-time voter, I didn’t face any problem,” said a voter.However, Sonal said there is scope for improvement in technology. While praising the supportive staff at her polling booth, she noted an opportunity for greater digitisation in the voting process. “I expect that it should be digitised, more computer-oriented. There should be a monitor screen. Most of the things were happening manually,” she said.