The recent Supreme Court judgment on the demand to provide for negative voting through a button on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for None of the Above, or NOTA, option has evoked great public enthusiasm. The proponents of the right to reject are in celebratory mode under the impression that their long-pending demand has at last been met. The fact is that the judgment has not created the right to reject. The Supreme Court has given four important pronouncements: (a) recognition of the right to a negative vote (even though it will not affect the result) as a part of freedom of expression, as envisaged in Article 21, (b) direction to Election Commission to introduce NOTA on the EVM (and ballot paper) to ensure voter secrecy, (c) comment on the dubious quality of candidates and emphasising the need for candidates with "ethical and moral values", and (d) comment on voter apathy.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 18:11:22 +0000