Scrap NOTA? Voting Option Saw Fewer Takers in Five-State Elections Since 2013: EC Data

‘None of the above’ or NOTA votes have witnessed a significant drop in elections across five states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram — when compared to 2018, according to the Election Commission of India. The numbers analysed by News18 also shows a consistent drop in the NOTA votes in these states since 2013.

Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were the first to have the option of NOTA when they went for polls in 2013. Telangana, which also went for polls last month, was formed in 2014.

When these four states got the option of NOTA, they didn’t shy from giving their votes to it. But the data revealed that the voters have become more decisive after 2013.

For instance, Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest drop in NOTA votes – 1.12 lakh – this year. In 2018, it got 5.40 lakh NOTA votes. In 2023, it was 4.27 lakh – also the highest among all five states. In 2013, the state registered 6.43 lakh NOTA votes.

Rajasthan where 85,922 fewer NOTA votes were polled this time compared to 2018. From 5.90 lakh votes to no candidate in particular in 2013, the NOTA votes in Rajasthan dropped to 4.67 lakh in 2018. This time, it further came down to 3.82 lakh.

Third in the line was Chhattisgarh that registered a drop of 85,060 votes as NOTA votes reduced to 1.97 lakh.

Telangana was slightly different from these states. While all four states have witnessed a consistent drop in NOTA votes since 2013, Telangana saw an increase in vote share between its first assembly polls and 2018. This time, the NOTA votes dropped to 1.71 lakh from 2.24 lakh in 2018.

In total, these five states received close to 18 lakh NOTA votes in the first election that dropped to over 15 lakh in 2018. This time, it was 11.82 lakh NOTA votes.

What is NOTA?

The EC introduced NOTA in October 2013 based on a Supreme Court order from September 2013. The main objective of the NOTA option was to enable electors to exercise their right not to vote for any candidate without violation of the secrecy of their decision.