An
83-year-old woman walked 14 kilometres from her village to the nearest polling
station to vote in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections taking place on
Saturday, November 12. Himachal Pradesh is voting on 68 Assembly constituencies.
Results of the elections will be announced on December 8. Nearly 38% people
have voted in the elections till 1 pm. In 2017, Himachal Pradesh recorded 74%
voter turnout.

Also Read | Himachal Pradesh elections 2022: 5 things you need to know

Buoyed by
the spirit of democracy, Dolma, an 83-year-old woman cast her vote at the
Chasak Bhatori polling station in Chamba district’s Pangi area. The station
falls under the Bharmour assembly segment. Dolma trekked the long route through
mountains to exercise her franchise.

Voters in
large numbers were seen walking on the snow-bound road in Chamba’s Pangi area
to reach Chasak Bhatori polling station for the Bharmour Assembly segment.

Also Read | More than half of Himachal has voted by 3pm

Dolma is
not the only elderly voter intent on exercising her vote. Pyar Singh, 103 years
old, was also out in Himachal’s cold weather with his family on Saturday
morning.  

The seniors
came out to vote even though the Indian Election Commission has made
arrangements for at-home voting for people over the age of 80.

Also Read | In Himachal polls, Congress relies on tradition, BJP on individual talent

Himachal
Pradesh also hosts the world’s highest polling station at Tashigang, under the
Lahaul-Spiti Assembly segment. Tashigang is located 15,256 feet above sea
level. Voters have gathered at the polling station in large numbers.

Voting
began in Himachal Pradesh at 8 am and will go on till 5 pm. The polls are being
conducted in a single phase. Results will be declared on December 12.

Himachal
Pradesh was home to India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi until he died on
November 5. Negi had been voting in elections since 1951. The 2022 elections
were the first time Negi did not vote for a polling booth. The Election
Commission had laid out a red carpet for him to cast a postal ballot because he
was not doing well.