The None of the Above option in India has played a decisive role in swinging results of elections in several state assembly and parliamentary constituencies, election data reveal.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that a NOTA option must be provided in electronic voting machines so that voters are able to exercise their voting right if they do not opt to vote for a party’s candidate.
—Can ‘None of the Above’ be a game changer?
Do you think we should have that option?
April 13, 2019
It’s an interesting idea. As it stands now, if the candidates for both major parties stink, the only way to have a protest vote is to vote for a candidate in a “marginal” party, such as Green or Libertarian. These are “throw away” votes in my mind, but there is no way to discern what percentage are supporters of the candidates and what percentage are protest votes. A none-of-the-above option would send a message that there is a percentage of voters who cannot support any of the candidates.
I agree!
I tend to agree with Mike above. I don’t pretend to know all the intricacies of the electoral collage and such but I would have used the NOTA button last time. instead like he said I guess my vote counted as a marginal throw away vote!
Yes, it’s a chance to protest.
I would like that.
Me too!
If we had a NOTA option would that mean all the incumbents stayed in place? If so, I’m having trouble seeing that as being better.
There would be rules to handle that, maybe the candidate that got the most votes. But it would be a clear signal that the voters aren’t happy, and that the argument, “Vote for me, the other person is even worse,” doesn’t cut it.
Hmmm, interesting concept
Good for India, I say. 🙂
all comment make sense…what if everyone or the biggest $ voted NOTA – would it be a hung election or a re-election OR as Linda suggests, there is no change…
They would have to allow for that possibility, and it might be a wake-up call to the politicians.
Clearly, NOTA would be a protest vote—the number of such votes would be noted, and hopefully political parties would respond. I’m not aware of anything like it in Canada, but can think of a few times I would have used it!
Chuck below says they have it in Nevada. Here are more details from Wikipedia.
Apparently they have that option in Nevada – my pal audrey mentions it every election year.
Thank you! I didn’t know and looked it up.
Many times I have written in Disney characters. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and my favorite, Goofy.
You’re lucky. New Mexico is one of the nine states that don’t allow write-ins. 🙁
So, in Nevada, one of the candidates the majority of the people refused to vote for wins?!
Yes, but the voters have still sent a message. Much better than not voting.
From Wikipedia:
I think it’s a good idea, because you can tangibly show your dislike of all the other candidates and shake them up a bit. It’s been mooted a few times in the UK but the government has never taken it up.
I agree! I think more people would vote if they had that option.