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Mangalore: 'No difference between NOTA and abstaining from vote'

  •   Sun, Mar 30 2014 03:58:59 PM

Pics: Meryick D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore(SHS)

Mangalore, Mar 30: Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists' Union (DKDWJU) president P B Harish Rai on Sunday March 30 said that there is no difference between opting for None of the Above (NOTA) and abstaining from voting.

He was addressing a public voting awareness programme organized by JCI wing, Bellare at Central Market here. A street play was held to create awareness on the importance of voting.

P B Harish, further said, "Some people have stepped forward to campaign about NOTA which could be detrimental in the elections. NOTA cannot be an option for the voter. The voter should exercise franchise by voting for an individual rather than choosing the new option."

The Election Commission of India had told the Supreme Court in 2009 that it wished to offer the voter a "None of the Above" option on the ballot machine, something that the government had generally opposed. The People's Union for Civil Liberties, a non-governmental organisation, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in support of this. On September 27, 2013, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the right to register a "None of the Above" vote in elections should apply, noting that it would increase participation.

Past zonal president, Aravind Rao Kedige, said, "Voting is the right of each citizen of India. To make India better, people should turn out in good numbers on April 17. Junior Jaycee is organizing the street play to propagate awareness to the public, which is a laudable effort."

Members of the JCI, Bellare staged a street play, 'Namma nade boothinede' (Our walk towards election booth) to create awareness on the voting rights among the people. 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Manohar Veigas, UDUPI

    Sun, Mar 30 2014

    Voters expect the Parties to be Clean and the Candidates be deserving to be voted for. But if even either of them is missing, is not justified to press NOTA, of course, steps should be taken to express the voters choice on NOTA, as a powerful weapon for re-election with new candidates even if NOTA gets second maximum votes.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • prashanth, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Sun, Mar 30 2014

    Hi,
    Yes, it is perfectly said that NOTA and abstaining from voting is same, But we all forget that the Constitution had already provided more stronger tool in rejection which is called 49-0.

    Advantage and Power of 49-0
    It is equal to the Right to Rejection but in different words, Which has not been educated to the voters.
    The power of 49-0 is that if the total votes registered under 49-0 is more than the margin of victory, Then the election is d void and those people who contested the election cannot stand for the repeat election.

    This is the most powerful tool which was given from starting in the Constitution. But the sad part is, no one is educating the people regarding this. Neither AAP who wanted to get Right to Rejection are not talking about this.

    But they were batting for NOTA which is a Toothless tool in the election process.

    Jago Jantha Jago...

    Vote Wisely and effectively.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse


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