40 pc rise in NOTA votes

Chandigarh, May 23

This Lok Sabha poll result shows that 4,335 votes were cast for NOTA (none of the above) in the city. This marks nearly 40 per cent rise from the previous general election, when the city first voted for the option. Then, 3,106 electors had voted in favour of NOTA.

NOTA, also known as “against all” or a “scratch” vote, is a ballot option to allow the voter to indicate disapproval of the candidates in a voting system.

The option was first used in India in 2009. Chhattisgarh was the first state to give the option to its voters in the local government elections. The NOTA button made its debut in the 2013 Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, MP and Delhi. 

Since its introduction, NOTA has gained popularity among the Indian electorate, securing more votes than the victory margin for instance in the Assembly elections in Gujarat in 2017 and Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in 2018. — TNS