Dutiful citizen...and all that jazz !

Prologue: I am a dutiful citizen. I always follow traffic rules...even at 3:00 a.m. when the roads are completely deserted...I even get teased by some people for it. I never litter on the roads...at any given time you will find that my handbag contains some stuff to throw in the waste bin at home...in fact I will even take stuff from people who are about to throw it on the road and stuff it in my bag if they don't put it in theirs. I pay taxes...really. I always vote...after a careful study of the candidates in my ward and a lot of deliberation over who will prove to be the lesser evil this time.

Chapter One: The previous elections: Yours truly went to the polling station bright and early. After intensive research in ALL the lists of all the rooms, it was discovered that my name was missing. Not just me, that day there were literally hundreds who had been suddenly and inexplicably denied their right to vote. I ran from pillar to post, first to get it verified that my name was really missing and not just misplaced and then to the existing corporators' offices and booths to see how it can be included and how I could get the opportunity to vote. I spent half the day doing this. When it was conclusively proved that nothing can be done this time, I went back dejected. Later I reported this to appropriate authorities to ensure that my name would be there the next time.

Chapter Two: Today morning - This year's elections: Ten days ago I got all my details from the website...the various numbers including my serial number, also the name of the college and even the room number. This morning I went to my designated room...and against my serial number, there was another name ! I gave them all details...all numbers, my name and address too. They said I must be in the wrong room. So I went to another one they recommended. My name wasn't in the list in that room too ! Off I went to a third room...and no prizes for guessing what happened...my name wasn't in that room as well. Each time I had to stand in a queue, then provide all details and, after prolonged searches launched on various criteria, be shunted to another room. In the third room, the chap there sensed my growing irritation and suggested that I go to a booth outside the college and enquire with a person sitting with a laptop (!) where exactly my name is. (Aside: Why can't they have computers manned by government officials INSIDE the polling stations to simplify the searches and other such useful things ?) So I went to the booth outside and got it verified. There they told me that my name was, in fact, in another school a little distance away. Hmmph ! Needless to say, I went there. Now, I shall spare you some time by simply stating that I had and identical experience in two rooms here. In the second room I met a guy from our lane. He was on election duty and remarked that all my family was listed in that room, but not me. By this time I was reeeeaaallly on the edge. Seeing that, he gave me the number of a local corporator's office and asked me to call there and assured that I would get exact information over there. So I called that office...and....they directed me back to another room in the college I had come from !!! But, by now I was also determined than ever to vote. So I went back...straight to the room they had directed me to. Again I repeated the loop...the serial numbers, name and address. While the polling officer was looking in the list (and while I was mentally preparing myself to be redirected elsewhere), wonder of wonders...one chap sitting behind with another copy of the list read out my name from the list, against my serial number ! I almost screamed, "It's there ??!!". And suddenly at least three people in the room started looking at me in a rather odd manner. Then I realised what my words meant to them....what did I mean by "It's there ??!!" :) Then, feeling much lighter now because my name was finally there, I started laughing and explained to them that I had been to 5 rooms and 2 colleges before my name was found and hence that reaction. Then the whole room full of people laughed with me. Finally I was able to vote.

1 hour to locate my name. 1 minute to cast my vote.

For the people who have not really done much for the city and who are unlikely to do so in the future as well, I spent so much time and energy, not to mention petrol, just for my belief that, even a single voice, a single vote, does make a difference...and that I should not fail in my duty.

Zoya
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