Sushameendra Balaji entered the world of election research at the age of sixteen. What began as a teenager's curiosity grew into years of travelling across India, speaking to voters, observing elections, and trying to understand how democracy works beyond television debates and headlines. Since then, he has worked with political consulting firms, media organisations, and development projects, gaining first-hand experience in elections, governance, and public policy. Ballots and Blind Spots is his first book.