NOTA vote in EVMs

The option to exercise a `None of the Above'(NOTA) vote has been given to the electorate in Rule 49-0 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. NOTA gives voters the right to withhold consent to unworthy or criminal candidates.

If a sufficient number of voters feel that the choices are unacceptable, they can exercise the NOTA option and offer a means to start over again with cleaner candidates. It would force party leaders to consider merit while issuing tickets. Even when NOTA voters are not in a majority, a large number of such votes would force political candidates to rethink what they were doing wrong.

However, when India made the transition from paper ballots to electronic voting machines (EVMs), the EVMs did not incorporate the NOTA choice for voters. While Rule 49-0 does offer a voter the right to make a NOTA choice, it does not ensure secrecy of the ballot. If a voter wants to exercise his NOTA choice, he has to sign for it in the Voters' Register in front of polling officials. This violates the secrecy of the ballot and infringes on the voter's fundamental right of free expression.

Many democracies offer the NOTA option to its citizens, including countries like Thailand and Bangladesh. It's time India too offered this option to ensure a political system free of rampant corruption and inefficiency. Election Commission is requested to exercise the power its given over the parliament, by the constitution, to incorporate such an option in EVMs. Please sign the petition in maximum numbers to request the EC and CEC to give us the NOTA vote.