CONSTITUENTS of Aranguez/St Joseph said they came out to vote for the general election because it was the right thing to do for the future of their children and grandchildren.

These were some of the views voters shared with Newsday when voting began in the marginal constituency on April 28.

Despite a few challenges in the case of a young autistic voter, a concern about the location of a UNC mock station, and restrictions for where the media could interview people, the voting process had no disruptions.

At the Aranguez Hindu School, there was a short line of people waiting to vote at 8 am. One of the information clerks said there had been a "couple of hundred" people who had voted, which she said was a good turnout for the time of day.

The Sankar family, including grandmother, mother and father and adult son, said the process was smooth.

“We don't ever have a problem with that. All our names does always be there.”

Another voter said he came out to vote because he had the right to do so.

“If they don’t vote, that is their choice and they couldn’t complain if they didn’t come out to vote.”

Another voter said he came out to “vote them out,” while another said she wanted a better future for herself, her children and her grandchildren.

[caption id="attachment_1152047" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Four members of the Sankar family show off their ink-stained fingers after voting at the Aranguez Hindu Primary School on April 28. - Photo by Faith Ayoung[/caption]

The UNC mock station at the Gandhi Memorial Vedic School had to be moved as one of the polling stations was set up in a perimeter classroom. This meant the 100-yard limit for the polling station was measured from the perimeter fence of the school, as opposed to the gate.

This took some time, as the staff were not advised of the reason they were being asked to move until after a lawyer arrived and spoke to the presiding officer. One member of the staff said if this explanation had been given earlier, they would have moved quickly.

The limit was also enforced for the media, who were normally allowed to interview voters as they left the polling station premises. A police officer explained,

“While it is the first time I’m hearing of this being enforced for the media as well, just because it’s customary doesn’t mean it’s right, because sometimes we’re accustomed doing the wrong thing. If you grow up doing the wrong thing, you will do the wrong thing until someone tells you it’s the wrong thing.”

Voting at this venue was steady but with low numbers. Newsday was told many people in the area were saying they were just getting up or would come out later.

[caption id="attachment_1152048" align="alignnone" width="1024"] People line up to vote at the Aranguez Hindu Primary School on April 28. - Photo by Faith Ayoung[/caption]

At the San Juan Boys' RC and Girls' RC polling stations, located in the same building, the place appeared almost empty, with a voter or two entering every couple of minutes. Staff at the venue said while there had been