Is NOTA (‘None of the above’ option) a sign of rebelling against the political system? Or, is it an expression of frustration of the voter in not finding the right candidate to choose? More importantly, do these votes embarrass the politicians and make a difference?

The awareness about the NOTA option has tremendously increased.

“Last December I became a major, and a few months back, my parents called me to inform me that I can cast my vote in the upcoming elections as my name is included in the list of voters,” 18-year old Susheel Kumar, who doing his higher education outside the state, said. When asked whom he would vote for, he initially said that he will vote for justice. However, on probing, the first-time voter admitted to choose the NOTA option on May 16.

Also a first time voter is Smeeta Sharma. Originally from the North, she is married in Coimbatore. She shares with us that this is the first time she will cast her vote and have her finger inked. She will cast her vote at the Corporation School in R.S. Puram. “I’m 26years old and this is the first time I’m going to vote. I will choose the None of the Above (NOTA) option,” Smeeta said.

Mohamed Khan, a student in a private arts and science college in the city, has also made up his mind to hit the NOTA button tomorrow. “I’m confused about whom to vote for. So I have decided that I will go with the NOTA. However, I have my doubts as to how effective this is in the first place,” Mohamed said.

The carnival-like atmosphere of Coimbatore has transformed into that of a battlefield’s. The district is all set for voting tomorrow, along with the rest of Tamil Nadu. Also voting tomorrow are Kerala and Pudhucherry. What kind of impact is NOTA likely to have in these states and union territory?

Social activist A. Manoj explained that NOTA option is as good as not voting at all. “Say, for example, pooling booth A has hundred registered voters. If all the one hundred people exercise their right to vote and if 30 people select NOTA option, polling booth A will record only 70 per cent voter turnout,” Manoj explained.

On the question of impact of NOTA, Manoj admitted that nothing much can be expected this time, but he was positive that things will improve in the next assembly elections.

He also said that there is a possibility that the Election Commission will do away with party symbol in the next assembly elections. Manoj shared with us that party symbols came into being keeping in mind the illiterate citizens who were the majority decades ago. However, times have changed and citizens have the ability to know the difference between candidates and political parties.

“Symbols are allotted to a majority of political parties just one week prior to voting. A handful of major political strong parties have symbols allotted well in advance. This gives the latter an advantage in campaigning. Instead of using symbols, the photograph of the leader can be used in the voting machines. This will help the political parties and the public too,” Manoj said.