Question

Which of the following statements about NOTA and VVPAT are correct?

1. NOTA was first implemented in India on October 11, 2013, in ballot papers.

2. The first VVPAT was implemented on a pilot basis in the Noxon constituency of Nagaland in 2013.

3. The NOTA button was initially pink but changed to white for parliamentary elections.

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

Answer 1

Answer:

D. All are correct

NOTA (None Of The Above)

• Introduction of NOTA: The option of 'None Of The Above' (NOTA) allows voters to officially register a vote of rejection for all candidates contesting. This gives voters the right to not vote for any candidate if they find none suitable.

• Historical Context: The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment on People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India on September 27, 2013, directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide the NOTA option.

• First Implementation Date: NOTA was indeed first implemented in India on October 11, 2013. This was for the Assembly elections held in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi. It was initially provided on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), not ballot papers. For ballot papers used in postal voting, the NOTA option was also introduced simultaneously.

• Symbol of NOTA: The Election Commission of India introduced a specific symbol for NOTA, a ballot paper with a cross mark, in September 2015.

• Impact of NOTA: While NOTA votes do not impact the outcome of an election (i.e., the candidate with the most votes wins regardless of NOTA numbers), it serves as a powerful indicator of voter dissatisfaction and can prompt political parties to field better candidates.

Understanding VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)

• Purpose of VVPAT: VVPAT is a method of providing feedback to voters. When a vote is cast, a paper slip is generated, showing the candidate's serial number, name, and party symbol. This slip is visible to the voter for about seven seconds through a transparent window before it drops into a sealed box. This allows voters to verify that their vote has been cast correctly.

• Enhancing Transparency: VVPAT enhances the transparency and verifiability of the election process, providing an audit trail for election disputes and ensuring greater public confidence in EVMs.

• First Implementation Location: The first pilot implementation of VVPAT was indeed in the Noxon (or Nagaland) constituency of Nagaland in 2013. This marked a significant step towards increasing the credibility of the voting process.

• Gradual Rollout: Following the pilot, VVPATs were gradually introduced in various elections. The Supreme Court mandated the use of VVPATs in all future elections in 2017.

• Mandatory Use: Since 2019, VVPATs have been used in all Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in India, accompanying every EVM. A sample of VVPAT slips (typically 5 VVPATs per assembly constituency) are randomly selected and counted to match with the EVM results as part of the Election Commission's verification process.

NOTA Button Color

• Initial Design: The NOTA button was initially assigned a pink color to make it distinctly visible on the EVM's ballot unit.

• Change for Parliamentary Elections: Subsequently, for parliamentary elections and other major polls, the color of the NOTA button was changed to white, matching the background of other candidate buttons, but maintaining its distinct placement as the last option. This standardization aimed for uniformity across different types of elections.