Where's the fun if an election, the festival of democracy, has no room for a bit of laughter? No polling day passes without moments that make even the most serious booth officials break into smiles. After all, spending long hours inside a polling station from 7 am to 6 pm makes humour a welcome relief. And it can come in the most unexpected ways. Here are some of the funny experiences of polling officials on the polling day...

Spectacles as symbol: To wear or not to wear?
At one polling booth, a candidate's symbol was a pair of spectacles. Polling agents had already taken their places, and voting was underway when a youngster walked in with the pass of an election agent. Although he was cleared to enter, he seemed oddly hesitant.

When officials urged him to come in, he finally asked, in all seriousness, whether he was allowed to enter while wearing his spectacles. His concern wasn't entirely misplaced; the Election Commission prohibits displaying a candidate's symbol or anything resembling it within 200 metres of a polling station.

Hearing this, the polling officer instinctively pushed his own spectacles up onto his forehead and gave the youngster a long stare.

Did you hear the beep?
In local body elections, voters in panchayats must cast three votes - one each for the grama panchayat, block panchayat and district panchayat. After casting all three, a woman voter from a panchayat in the eastern suburbs suddenly had a doubt: Did the machine beep?

Unsure, she returned to the voting machine and pressed the end button again. That created an unexpected problem for the next voter in line — his voting session had automatically ended before he could cast even a single vote.

Since no votes had been recorded, officials had to suspend the process briefly and reset the system, eventually giving the voter a fresh opportunity to cast his ballot.

The forgotten card that came flying in
At a booth in Kottarakkara town, poll campaigners escorting a differently abled voter realised, to their dismay, that he had forgotten to bring his identity card. After debating whether to go with the voter to his residence to collect it or leave him at the booth, they finally decided on the latter. The voter grew impatient, and polling officials grew uneasy as they took an unusually long time to fetch the card.

The presiding officer suggested that the voter be seated comfortably while the card was fetched. But even after half an hour, there was still no sign of the aides who had gone to retrieve it.

Just as tempers were fraying, the long-awaited identity card appeared, quite literally "flying in" through the hands of the returning aides, bringing the mini-crisis to an end and drawing relieved smiles from everyone at the booth.

Caroms to fight boredom
"Polling is peaceful. No untoward incident." That was when the bored police officer on duty in front of the polling booth noticed children playing caroms at the nearby bus shelter. The cop joined them. While the officer played on one side, the children played on the other. Suddenly, the cop grew suspicious that the children were recording a video. He immediately stopped the game and fled.

Can a vote be cast if the MLA gives a call...
"Can I vote if the MLA gives a call?" asked an elderly voter who reached the polling booth without any identity card. He was allowed to vote only after workers brought his Aadhaar card from his home. This happened at a booth in Kollam Corporation.

The same booth also saw a man who insisted that the ballot unit and the ink for marking fingers be brought to his car so that his grandmother could vote without entering the booth. When it became clear that this was impossible, a wheelchair was arranged to bring her inside.

A 'selfless volunteer'
When a polling official reached the booth on the eve of the election at a booth in Palathara division of Kollam Corporation,  a man appeared, ready to help him. He asked what was needed. The officials told him that there was no light at the polling station. The 'volunteer' left with a list of requirements, including lighting, drinking water, and food. He showed the list to workers of both political fronts, who turned him away and questioned his authority. 

He returned to inform the polling officer that there was no option but to put up with the inconveniences. The intention of this 'volunteer' remains unknown.

Elderly man's vote makes son anxious
At a booth on the eastern side of Puthur, a man arrived with his octogenarian father to help the latter cast his vote. After officials granted permission, the son accompanied the elderly man inside.

Moments later, the father's voice rose loud enough for everyone outside the voting compartment to hear: "Not in that… in this!" Those listening immediately understood what had happened- the father and son were at odds over whom to vote for. The son grew visibly embarrassed as agents and polling officials exchanged knowing glances. In the end, the father made the final decision.

When they stepped out, the candidate who believed he had secured the vote walked up to greet them. The elderly man reassured him confidently, "Don't worry. I voted for our symbol."

The candidate leaned in and whispered, almost helplessly, "I'm not contesting on that symbol this time. How many times did I tell you?" The son chimed in, trying to back the candidate's frustration. But the father waved them off, declaring he would vote only for the symbol he recognised. He then strutted out, refusing even to hold his son's hand- leaving the entire booth in laughter.

Biryani instead of bananas
At a polling booth in Pavithreswaram panchayat, officials had been informed that Kudumbashree members would provide lunch. But when food hadn't arrived even after 2 pm, one of the polling officials asked party agents whether they could arrange a few bananas for the team.

The agents stepped outside and passed the request to party workers. What followed was a rare display of political unity - within 10 minutes, workers from all parties joined hands and sent in packets of biryani. When the Kudumbashree team eventually arrived with lunch, their packets had to be sent back. Polling officials later wrapped up the day, expressing heartfelt thanks to the party workers who had given them an unexpected feast.