Notice the NOTA

Recently I suggested to a friend that I am considering using the NOTA (None of the above) button this election. His reaction surprised me - he went into a monologue of how NOTA is like wasting your vote etc. I will not bore you with the details as you must have heard of how using the NOTA option is a total waste of your franchise etc. However that interaction got me thinking and I concluded that most people opposing NOTA option in our election process either lack clear thinking or are plainly being politically biased. Here is what I think

First let's get our facts right
NOTA currently does not have any electoral value. It means that even if NOTA gets majority vote a real candidate contesting with the next highest number of votes will be declared elected. In the EVM world of elections - this is an option equivalent to casting a paper vote without stamping any of the choices.

So then, why am I even discussing NOTA as an option.

NOTA is a message from the voter to all Parties
Think of NOTA as a message to all parties that we are unhappy with the choice of candidates offered by them in our constituency. Think of it as a pressure group asking political parties to do more due diligence in choosing and offering us with a candidate with better merit.

It also is a signal that we as electorate will not be satisfied with choosing the better of many bad candidates offered to us. It is a message that we are now more ambitious, more demanding and more imaginative in our expectations.

When NOTA starts attracting more number of votes it can result into one or more of the following many possibilities 

(a) It can make the political parties sit and do the arithmetic as to how these votes can affect their chances of win/lose. Obviously that will result into they applying their minds better to choosing better quality candidates.

(b) It can encourage meritorious candidates who wish to make a difference by creating an impact in public life but are overwhelmed by the need to be a part of the decapitated system, structure and processes of mainstream political parties.

(c) On a more idealistic note - it can result into many other smaller parties to erupt from nowhere in search of satisfying these dissatisfied voters.

(d) It may make our policy makers sit up and define a political process that may run into many stages so that a candidate is actually chosen by real majority (that is he/she must defeat NOTA as option as well)

(e) At the least it should make our political parties involve the local public more in choice of candidates.


(f) It may also signal an end to elections being referendum on a person/party like a presidential elections and it may shift the focus to local issues - which should happen in a truly federal democracy.

Difference between indifferent and disappointed citizen

A back of the paper calculation will tell us that between 30 to 50% of electorate does not vote currently. There are primarily three categories of people who do not vote -
One, those who do not yet know their right to vote, do not yet understand their duty to vote and do not realise the power of their vote.
Two, those who are disappointed by our democratic choices offered and hence do not go to the polling booths
Three, indifferent people who don't care.

Most of you would agree that the first category is declining steadily as India becomes more and more politically aware and vocal country. And that there will always be a small percentage that will remain in the third category.

NOTA however is a powerful option for the second category. These politically active and concerned category should go out and at least register a NOTA. This shall ensure that they participate in the democratic process and register their point of view - however much we may dislike their disappointment. Further, it reduces the chances of bogus voting in their names.

But voting NOTA may get the worse candidate chosen 
This is the most often given argument against NOTA and nothing can be more laughable an argument. This argument assumes that bereft of those people who do not feel good about all the candidates on offer - the majority was in fact with the worse choice. And if this was true why do we call that candidate the worse choice !?

Then why do so many people oppose NOTA
If you ask me this question, my answer would be - "No idea". Because most people whom I have heard opposing NOTA offer some vague - "NOTA is a waste of your vote" or that "NOTA is like dereliction of your duty as a citizen" or some such phrase without offering a reason or logic to such flat judgements.

I realised that most people (not all however) resist NOTA because their mental arithmetic tells them that more people choosing NOTA may lead to their favourite candidates losing the election. This of course is then a farce to discuss with such biases. 

The only valid argument currently is that NOTA votes do not have an electoral value as of now. However, your vote to NOTA is still a message to those who should but do not care for what you feel about the choices you are offered as your leaders.

So. am I suggesting you to vote NOTA??

No, surely not. I neither advocate nor oppose NOTA. When you make up your mind on whom to vote for - keep NOTA as a valid option. Weigh your choices - decide on the best candidate out of the given GOOD choices. However, I am surely suggesting Do NOT choose the better of the bad alternatives. If you feel that the candidates offered are not even of acceptable quality - go out and press the NOTA button. The point is simple NOTA is a valid option for every voter.

One last thing - whatever you do - whomever you choose - even if you choose NOTA, please do go out and vote. Because we must matter.