There has been a lot of enthusiasm among the people to exercise their franchise from the early morning hours on April 9, 2026 in Puducherry.

With educational institutions, government offices, shops and business establishments declaring holiday on the polling day in the Union Territory, people could be seen lined up outside the polling stations from 6.30 a.m., though polling was scheduled to start only at 7 a.m.

Long queues were seen in most of the polling booths. Women and senior citizens, who wanted to exercise their franchise before the day set in, came out in large numbers in the early morning itself. Assisted by student volunteers, several elderly people were seen visiting the polling booths to cast their vote.

The Elections Department had utilised the services of around 2,000 student volunteers to assist senior citizens and differently-abled persons to vote. Senior citizens who had made prior request for transportation were provided a vehicle and a student volunteer for assistance to reach the polling booth. “Though several senior citizens, had made the request, the final figures will be known only later,” said an election official. 

In a bid to encourage women to participate in greater numbers, the Elections Department had established 30 all-women staffed polling stations across the Union Territory. One of the pink booths in Embalam Assembly constituency was entirely managed by women polling personnel — from the presiding officer down to the police constable deployed at the entrance.

“I didn’t go for work as we wanted to cast our vote before the day got hotter. Another reason for casting the vote early was because, it’s almost like a holiday and my husband and children are at home. I will go back home after casting vote to make special lunch,” said Soundariaya, a voter in Vaithikuppam area.

Her friend, Shruthi, said people like her in the area voted largely for welfare measures and looking at promises of parties for the overall development of Puducherry. “As a woman, we look for safety, welfare measures and economic prosperity. The primary concern for all women, wherever they are, is a conducive and safe surrounding to live and work,” she said. 

Excitement filled the air for hundreds of first-time voters who became eligible to exercise their democratic right. There are 24,919 first-time voters in Puducherry. “I learned about voting rights from Political Science textbook while in school. Before coming to vote today, I searched online to learn how to vote. I don’t know whether, my vote is going to make any big difference but certainly I feel more matured. I am excited to be part of the decision-making process,” T. Sujitha, first year B.Tech student at Pondicherry Technological University said after voting at Farooq Marikkar Government Girls High School at Kalapet constituency. 

She came to vote along with her elder sister, T. Madhumitha, doing her MA English Literature at Pondicherry University. “I am also a first-time voter. We are from Madurai. My chance to vote got delayed in Lok Sabha polls because of shifting of residence. Generally speaking, youngsters become more politically conscious as they grow older. Certainly, I am concerned about things happening around me like quality of roads, drinking water and other civic amenities, she said.