One button, one inked finger, and suddenly they’re part of a conversation they’ve only been listening to.
A six-hour journey from Mangaluru to Kozhikode did not stop Niya Fathima from casting her first vote on Thursday. The 20-year-old arrived just in time for election day and laughed at how grown-up it all felt.
With curiosity and a firm plan to show off her inked finger, Ms Fathima says the excitement of finally entering the booth is something she has been waiting to share with her friends. “It gives off a very Spider-Man vibe, you know, ‘with great power comes great responsibility,'” he quips. For Ms. Fathima, her first vote is less pressure and more excitement.
“I wonder what really happens inside the polling booths,” says Amrik Prakash VP, a second-year BCA student in Kozhikode. As a first-time voter eager to cast his vote, Mr. Amrik says he feels a simple thrill when he steps in, presses a button and becomes a part of democracy.
Aysha Dhiya, another first-time voter in the Kannur Corporation, describes her thinking as “more confused than anything”. She missed the vote last year because she was away from her hometown. And now, living in Bengaluru, Ms. Dhiya feels distant from the candidates who appear on her ballot.
“I’ve only seen their faces. I don’t know how they’re performing,” Ms. Dhiya says, adding that she’s spent the past week reading manifestos and going through political news, looking for candidates who address issues her family often talks about.
A more measured view comes from Megha N., 23, a second-year BEd student from Peralassery, who has consciously avoided voting until now. Although the elections in her locality were always loud and active, she chose to stay away.
“Earlier, I used to hold back because I believed that my decision should come from within,” says Ms. Megha, adding that she used to avoid voting to ensure that her choice was not influenced by others. This year, she finally feels ready. As for excitement, he laughs and adds, “No excitement because it’s a conscious decision.”
Published – 10 Dec 2025 19:05 IST
