PMC polls: Confusion, chaos and a lack of accessibility: Senior citizens face challenges in voting

Eager to cast her vote for Thursday’s civic elections in Pune, 75-year-old Susheela Banave was also subjected to waiting and stood with her walking frame at Shivarkar Road before her grandson Shivam was able to get a wheelchair at Mahadji Shinde school polling station, Wanowrie.

Must Read | Pune PMC Elections 2026 Highlights: Voter turnout in PMC polls remains low; PCMC records 40.5% voting

Several senior citizens at Pune’s Wanowrie area had to face a tough time as not only was there a delay in availing of a wheelchair but some were also non-functional. A few were even seen leaving this support and walking slowly towards the polling booth which is at a long distance from the gate at Kroot Memorial School in Azad nagar.

Dr Suryakant Deokar, Assistant Medical Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation said that they had provided wheelchairs across 932 centres. Dr Ketaki Ghatge, Ward Medical Officer, Wanowrie, said that they had also provided 65 wheelchairs at the buildings where polling centres were located. Dr Ghatge visited the centres where concerns were being raised and said that some wheelchairs were old ones but the issue was addressed immediately.

In various areas like Erandwane, PWD voters and senior citizens got wheelchair support to cast their vote in the PMC elections. Animesh Mantravadi got his parents to exercise their franchise at Kroot memorial school in Azad Nagar. They waited in their vehicle due to the delay in getting a wheelchair. His father Vijay Mantravadi is 80 and says despite his condition has come to vote.

Mandakini Dandnaik (85), voting at Moreshwar Sabhagruha, Dattawadi in Pune said the voting process was smooth and well managed. As a senior citizen, she was given priority and the necessary assistance, allowing her to complete the process in about 10 minutes. She said she has never missed voting in any election, calling it both a privilege and a responsibility, and urged young voters to exercise their right to vote.

At the same booth, Dilip Kolhe (73) said that voters were required to cast four votes, but only three voting machines had been provided. “The machines were colour-coded. Voters had to cast one vote each on the first two machines and two votes on the third. As an educated voter, I could manage, but I saw others struggling with the process. Providing four separate machines would have made voting easier, especially for less informed voters,” he said.

At Abhinav Vidyalaya, contrasting voter experiences highlighted systemic gaps. Sandhya Bhadkambkar (74) and husband Deepak Bhadkambkar (75), a couple, suffered a logistical misstep, “As senior citizens, we shouldn’t have been split. We were assigned different polling booths in spite of filling correct details,” they noted.

Another voter at Moreshwar Sabhagruh Satish (78) said, “The requirement to cast four votes was confusing and did not make sense to me, especially since this is a change from the earlier system.” He added, “Instead of reducing differences, such changes only create chaos.” Expressing disappointment with repeated pre-election assurances, he said, “Before every election, assurances are given, but once candidates are elected, citizens are rarely heard when we approach their offices.” Despite his dissatisfaction, he said that not voting wasn’t a solution.

Satish Rajpathak (69) said, “The voting experience was largely smooth,” but pointed out gaps in assistance for senior citizens. “Priority help is given only to voters above 75 or 80 years. People above 60 who require assistance should also be considered,” he said.

Umesh Gogate (68) has been going from one polling booth to another since 7.30 in Baner. The booth he was allotted is not there and his name is not there in the other 2-3 booths nearby like Polling booths 60 and 61. “My wife’s name is also not there in any booth and we are unable to vote,” says the resident of Athashri Baner. A person at the booth counter admitted to many such cases since morning.

Two senior citizens, Anuradha Pol (81) and Anuradha Agharkar (81), both having a shared record of never missing a poll, expressed satisfaction. “The staff were kind, patient, and guided us through every step,” they smiled. “Youth must vote too. It’s not a privilege, it’s a duty.”