For a political junkie, India elections are the 'Super Bowl'

Election News: 90% of Sidhbari ward expected to cast their ballot as 12 vie for state assembly.

With so many candidates vying to represent Himachal Pradesh in the India state assembly and new ballot machines to help ensure the voter’s vote is actually going to their candidate of choice, elections are a big deal in the world’s largest democracy.

I know little about the politics here, so as an observer, I'll stick to the process.

The weeks leading up to the Thursday, Nov. 9, election were filled with noise – lots of noise. Since any form of electronic advertising is nonexistent, candidates garner support by hiring drivers to travel up and down roads blaring the message from loudspeakers - and then there are the parades of flag-adorned vehicles, horns honking causing traffic jams on the narrow roads. (I was told that candidates pay drivers to participate in the parades).

Two days before the election, campaigning stops and on election day, the schools close and many businesses are shuttered.

According to Akshat Sharma, the election judge at our nearby polling place, with about 1,100 registered voters in the (precinct), 900 were expected to cast their ballot. It wasn’t only the number of candidates that piqued people’s interest, he said, but the new voting machines that, assigned a symbol to each candidate.This visual provides a sort of safety check beyond just the candidate’s name. 

Anyone wishing to vote, must present the official registration paper with their photo and address, and only then are they allowed into the polling station.

Nothing moves swiftly here in India, including election results. 

The election procedure and ballot counting takes time. I’m told that it won’t be until mid-December before the winner will be announced. In the meantime, I’m curious if the various political parties are required to pick up the paper mess they have created with all the posters.

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