Why Was NOTA Introduced for the Lok Sabha Elections in 2024?
Why Was NOTA Introduced for the lok sabha elections in 2024?
Voters who do not want to support any political candidate can use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) "None of the above" (NOTA) option. They can now exercise their right to abstain from voting without having to disclose their choice thanks to this. The voter's decision to not support any specific party or candidate is indicated by selecting NOTA. A constituency's second-highest vote-getter is proclaimed the victor if NOTA obtain the most votes in that constituency. Voters who wanted to reject every candidate had to fill out Form 49-O at a voting booth prior to NOTA being integrated into the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). But the confidentiality of the voter's selection was jeopardized by this procedure.
How come nota were presented?
Following a september 27, 2013, ruling by the supreme court, NOTA was implemented in India. It was intended to deter political parties from nominating corrupt individuals. Political parties will be compelled to present clean candidates as a result of negative voting, which will cause a systematic shift in polling. If the right to vote is a statutory right, then the right to reject a candidate is a fundamental freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution," declared a bench led by then-Chairman of the supreme court of india P. Sathasivam while giving the ruling.
When was India's first use of nota?
The NOTA option was initially applied in 2013 during the assembly elections that took place in the Union Territory of delhi as well as four states: Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. In the state elections, over 15 lakh voters used this option, with 3.56 lakh doing so in Chhattisgarh, 5.9 lakh in Madhya Pradesh, and 5.67 lakh in Rajasthan.