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Does “NOTA” option in elections really make sense?

Stephen Eleazer Daniel
. Update: Jun 11, 2019 8:21 am
5

Table of Contents

What is NOTA?

NOTA stands for “None Of The Above“. It is one of the options provided in EVMs in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. When a voter chooses NOTA, he/she basically expresses his/her discontent and disapproval with all the candidates of that particular constituency. None of the candidates is to the liking of the voter.

On 27 September 2013, the Supreme court of India ruled that the right to register a “none of the above” vote in elections should apply, while ordering the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide a button for the same in the electronic voting machines. NOTA was introduced in December 2013 by the Election Commission of India.

Effect of NOTA on elections so far:

The effect of NOTA on elections has been inconclusive so far. NOTA votes account for approximately 1-2% votes in various Assembly/Lok Sabha elections. This share is too low to actually make any difference in our elections. Various parties have expressed their concerns over NOTA stealing their share of votes, but these allegations can be dispensed with as they were made by losing parties. In some cases, %age of NOTA votes has been greater than the difference between the winning and losing party votes. But these figures are yet to be conclusive.

Reasons for ineffectiveness:

The reason for the ineffectiveness of NOTA so far is because it has no power with it. For example, if 99% of voters go with NOTA and 1% go with a certain candidate, the candidate will form the government. Despite 99% of the voters disagreeing to the candidate, the government will be formed by him/her. This shows how powerless NOTA is. Voters do not go with NOTA because of this very reason, it is powerless.

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Does it make sense?

In its current powerless format, NOTA does not make any sense. But, if a provision was made which mandated that a certain percentage of NOTA votes would lead to cancellation of the elections would really make NOTA an effective and viable option for the voters.

Your Turn…

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5 Comments

Avanya, Jul 20, 2022 @ 7:09 pm Reply

Thank you l can’t find this anywhere Thanks you so much
- Team GD Ideas, Jul 20, 2022 @ 9:27 pm Reply
  
  Glad it was helpful.
Vikash panigrahi, Dec 23, 2019 @ 4:58 pm Reply

I agree that NOTA in it’s current state is not effective at all. NOTA should be given some power and leverage in a situation where majority of the votes goes to NOTA
Swaraj Sundriyal, Oct 3, 2019 @ 6:56 am Reply

Nota in its present form is powerless,Election commission should make certain provisions to make it powerful and so that it has impact on elections ,
sheetal, Jun 15, 2019 @ 11:09 pm Reply

The Maharashtra State election commission (MSEC) declared that if the NOTA option on EVM receives the maximum votes in an assembly constituency,none of the contesting candidate will be declared elected and re-election will be held.