Question

Choose the correct statements regarding the NOTA (None of the Above) option in Indian elections:

1. NOTA was first introduced in India after a Supreme Court ruling in 2013.

2. India was the first country globally to introduce NOTA in electronic voting machines.

3. If NOTA gets the highest number of votes, the election is repeated in that constituency.

4. The NOTA symbol was designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

• A. 1 and 4 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. All are correct

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 4 only

Introduction of NOTA (None of the Above)

• NOTA was introduced in India following a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India on September 27, 2013. This ruling came in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v. Union of India.
• The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide the NOTA option on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot papers, empowering voters with the 'right to reject' all contesting candidates.
• The primary objective of NOTA is to allow voters who do not find any candidate suitable to express their dissatisfaction without abstaining from voting.
• It was first implemented in the 2013 Assembly elections held in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, as well as the Delhi Assembly elections.

Global Context of NOTA Implementation

• While India was a significant country to introduce NOTA, especially in the context of Electronic Voting Machines across a large democracy, it was not the first country globally to implement a 'None of the Above' option.
• Countries like France, Belgium, Brazil, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, and the US state of Nevada (since 1976) have had similar 'right to reject' or 'None of the Above' options in various forms, some predating India's introduction.
• The unique aspect for India was its widespread implementation on EVMs.

Impact of NOTA on Election Outcomes

• Currently, NOTA is considered a 'fictional electoral candidate' and does not hold the power to influence the election results directly.
• Even if NOTA receives the highest number of votes in a constituency, the candidate who secures the next highest number of votes among the actual contesting candidates is declared the winner.
• The votes cast for NOTA are counted and recorded, but they are treated as invalid votes for the purpose of determining the winning candidate.
• There have been ongoing debates and demands to make NOTA more impactful, such as requiring a re-election if NOTA crosses a certain threshold or secures the majority, but no such provisions have been enacted yet.

The NOTA Symbol

• To ensure ease of identification for voters, the Election Commission of India introduced a distinct symbol for the NOTA option.
• This specific symbol, depicting a ballot paper with a black cross, was designed by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.
• The symbol was introduced in September 2015, two years after the option was first made available.