'None of the above' (NOTA) option on EVM.
Credit: PTI File Photo
The election for the 40-member Mizoram Assembly is slated for November 7, with vote counting on December 3, alongside other poll-bound states. The major contenders, including MNF, ZPM, and Congress, are fielding candidates in all 40 constituencies. In contrast, the BJP, which contested 39 seats in the previous 2018 election, is now vying for 23 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal is making its debut with four candidates.
In the previous Mizoram Assembly election, several constituencies stood out for a significant number of voters choosing the NOTA (None of the above) option. Tuichawng (ST) led with an impressive 293 votes in favor of NOTA, closely followed by Hachhek (ST) with 250 votes. Mamit (ST), Lawngtlai West (ST), and Serlui (ST) constituencies also witnessed a substantial number of voters opting for the NOTA option, signaling a desire for alternative candidates. Additionally, Kolasib (ST), West Tuipui (ST), Dampa (ST), Chalfilh (ST), and Thorang (ST) constituencies recorded notable instances of voters choosing NOTA.
For a detailed breakdown of which seats saw the highest usage of the NOTA option in the 2018 Mizoram Assembly polls, refer to the bar chart below:
For the unversed, here's what NOTA means:
In India, if a voter does not support any of the candidates contesting from a particular election, but has to vote for something, then they can select the ‘None of the above’ (NOTA) option. This option empowers the voter to reject all the candidates listed on the electronic voting machine (EVM).
When was it first used?
NOTA was used for the first time in the 2013 Assembly elections in five states/UT - Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh - and later in the 2014 general elections. The NOTA button on an EVM ensures secrecy of ballot.