Electoral Reforms and the Role of NOTA
Context: The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) advocating for the compulsory inclusion of NOTA (None of the Above) in every election, even when there is only one candidate.
Background of NOTA
- Introduced in Indian elections in 2013 following a PIL by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
- Aims to allow voters the right not to vote for any candidate while maintaining the secrecy of their choice.
Current Debate
- The Election Commission (EC) argues against making NOTA compulsory due to low voter turnout opting for NOTA in past elections.
- Data from the EC indicates only six uncontested Lok Sabha elections since 1971 and nine candidates elected unopposed since 1952, suggesting rarity.
- Implementation of mandatory NOTA could require legislative changes to the Representation of the People Act 1951 and Election Rules 1961.
Statistics and Observations
The percentage of NOTA votes in the last three Lok Sabha elections (2014, 2019, 2024) was marginally above 1%. However, given the large electorate size, these numbers are significant.
- In certain state assembly elections, NOTA votes accounted for slightly higher percentages: 2.48% in Bihar (2015) and 1.8% in Gujarat (2017).
- NOTA votes were initially higher post-introduction but have shown a decline, though not consistently.
Suggestions for Electoral Reform
- Setting a minimum percentage of votes for a candidate to be elected based on constituency size.
- Consideration of re-election if a significant percentage of voters choose NOTA.
Conclusion: Even though NOTA has not seen widespread adoption, it remains a vital component for enhancing the responsiveness of the electoral system to public opinion. The debate continues on its obligatory inclusion in elections.
