Vellore, April 23: During the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, voters in Vellore district experienced a unique welcome at select polling stations, where robots greeted them and assisted in the voting process.
As part of a pilot project initiated by the Election Commission, humanoid robots were deployed at specific polling centers in the Gudiyattam and Vellore assembly constituencies. The aim was to enhance voter convenience and make the voting process more engaging and technologically advanced.
At the polling station located in the Government Higher Secondary School of Gudiyattam, a robot dressed in a sari welcomed voters in Tamil. It stood with trays of flowers and chocolates, creating a festive atmosphere at the polling center. Many voters, especially first-time voters, appeared excited by this sight.
One voter expressed, “We were amazed to see the robot. It was speaking in Tamil and even offered tips to stay cool in the heat.”
According to officials, this experiment was conducted at only two of the 1,427 polling stations in Vellore district.
The robot stationed at the Government Muslim Higher Secondary School in the Vellore assembly area was sensor-based, capable of shaking hands with voters and providing information related to the voting process. It informed voters about submitting mobile phones, accessing the polling booth, and other regulations.
Additionally, the robot raised awareness by providing information about separate queues and facilities like wheelchairs for elderly, pregnant, and disabled voters.
This innovative initiative attracted considerable attention at the polling stations, with many people seen interacting with the robot.
Election officials described this as an experimental step aimed at making the voting process more accessible, effective, and technology-driven.
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