The NOTA (None Of The Above) option provided on the EVMs this time gives the voters the power to reject all candidates if they do not find any candidate worth voting for in their constituency.

Interacting with voters in Dehradun, The Pioneer found varied opinions. A few seemed to like the NOTA option while others did not. Some are even confused about NOTA.

MKP Girls Inter College principal Archna Goel says, “The NOTA option has confused me. Already due to so much of political chaos in the country I, as a voter am confused as to who is the right leader for the nation. Introduction of NOTA has left me wondering what good will it do if I press the NOTA button.”

Prof Asha Gaur of MKP Girls Inter College finds NOTA a good option. She said, “NOTA is a good option since it gives a voter the freedom to reject if they do not wish to elect any candidate. Voters feel as if they have no choice left but to vote for a political party even if they do not like any candidate. NOTA has given them the power to express their dislike by rejecting all candidates.”

Prof Devika Manral says, “Instead of making the political system so complex our leaders should do what a leader is supposed to do-work towards the progress of our country. The common man is getting even more agitated and is losing hope for a better nation due to changes in the electoral process.”

Dr NS Khatri at Doon Hospital said, “NOTA is better than not casting vote at all. Pressing the NOTA button will show how many do not want to choose anyone from the present political parties as their leaders and their loss of faith by rejecting all the candidates.”

Businessman Vijay Kumar is against NOTA option and feels that it will make the citizens misuse their right to vote. “By pressing the NOTA button citizens are misusing their right to vote. Each citizen above the age of 18 years has been granted the right to choose their leader then why not use it. Oneshould learn to judge which leader is right and who is not.”

Another businessman Raj Kumar says, “I prefer NOTA over not voting at all. There can be reasons like circumstances which prevent one from voting. However, by using the NOTA option, the voters can show that they want to vote but could not find anyone worthy of being elected."