NOTA(None of the above): A Strong Democratic Weapon

• Democracy is an integral part of today's life system.but today,there are tough challenges before the society to strengthen democracy and protect it.Elections were limited to electing the representative of the people by voting and sending them to the legislative  for a term of 5 years.Even before the election,all the candidates of a constituency wanted to deny the public, this right was necessary to the voters.

 NOTA(None of the above):NOTA gives voters the right to not vote for any candidate ,contesting from a particular seat. If the voter feels that all candidate is not useful for them.
NOTA symbol was introduced in 2015.Citizens of India welcomed this from bottom of their hearts.Many political parties and politician opposed this.To avoid criminal candidates,to control money power and to choose better Candidate this is the best tool/weapon.

Reason to promote NOTA:It is essential that people of high moral and ethical values are choosing as people's representatives for proper governance of the country, To make democracy healthier ,to make more young voters  to take part in political process in 2013 The supreme court of India ruled that the right to register the None of the above symbol on electronic voting machine. NOTA was first used in India in 2009 . Chhattisgarh was the first state in India to give option of NOTA on electronic voting machine to the voters in the local government elections.Before the introduction of EVM when the voting was done through ballot papers,voters had a choice to put the ballot paper without marking against any candidates. It is must for healthier democracy.

Designe: 

    The symbol is designed by National Institute of design ,Ahamadabad.

Symbol:

Symbol used with NOTA option on electronic voting machines in India

 Scope:

  Option of NOTA is only available for Loksabha and State Assemblies,not for Rajyasabha and legislative council.NOTA button frist time uses assembly elections in 2013 in four states - chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and madhya Pradesh and the National  Capital Territory ,Delhi.

  Electoral value: NOTA doesn't have any electoral value ;even if the maximum voters are for NOTA ,the candidate with maximum vote share will still be winner. Therefore,it is only a method to give negative feedback.

Advantages of NOTA: 

 1) NOTA is really useful tool for fair choice in election.

  2) NOTA tells us that candidate it may be he or she is good enough for governing the system.

  3)NOTA prevent bogus voting.This is useful to bring gradual and systematic change in the quality and integrity of candidates.

  4) It preserves secrecy.

  5) It preserves freedom of expression by allowing voters to express dissent against undesirable candidates.

To avoid miss use of NOTA we should aware about elections.By checking the history and background of candidate decide to vote for candidate.
Need of Amendment:
1.If NOTA received maximum number of votes, re-election should be held in that constituency.
2.The candidates who lose to NOTA should not be allowed to contest elections for five years.



       I want to make an extremely strong appeal to those who abstained vote .It takes five minutes and then it's for five years

           -  Laurent Fabius