Why in news
Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy filed a PIL asking the Supreme Court to make NOTA (None of the Above) compulsory in all elections, even if only one candidate is contesting.
When was NOTA introduced?
NOTA was introduced in 2013 after a PIL by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
It allows voters to reject all candidates while keeping their vote secret.
Is NOTA relevant in Indian elections?
Few voters choose NOTA, but it still gives people a voice against all candidates.
If an election has only one candidate and no NOTA option, voters can't express disapproval.
The Election Commission says NOTA hasn’t had much impact, but it can make the system more people-friendly.
What is the EC’s argument?
EC opposes making NOTA mandatory in single-candidate elections.
It says unopposed elections are very rare (only 6 in Lok Sabha since 1971, 9 since 1952).
EC argues making NOTA mandatory needs changes in the law, which only Parliament can do.
Since unopposed elections are so rare, EC says a PIL is not necessary.
Are NOTA voters a minority?
Only about 1% vote for NOTA in general elections, but in absolute numbers, it's significant due to large constituencies.
Some States had higher NOTA percentages — Bihar (2.48% in 2015) and Gujarat (1.8% in 2017).
NOTA usage is usually higher in the first election after it was introduced in a State.
What next?
Reforms could include requiring a candidate to get a minimum percentage of votes to win.
If many voters choose NOTA, re-elections could be held to give the choice more power.
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