The Election Commission is leaving no stone unturned in bringing eligible voters to the booth to exercise their franchise, while many voters are not aware of their right to ‘refusal to vote’ even after verifying their identity before the Presiding Officer . This right is different from NOTA (No vote for any of the above) and can be exercised under ‘Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961’.
Then the further process will be like this
This provision states that a voter can abstain from voting even after reaching the polling station. The ‘NOTA’ option gives voters the opportunity to express no confidence in any candidate, while the ‘refusal to vote’ option gives them the opportunity to abstain from the voting process itself. Section ’49-O’ directs the Presiding Officer that when a voter refuses to vote inside the booth even after his identity is verified, the officer shall enter a note in this regard in Form 17A and get the signature of the voter or Will get thumb impression done.
‘This is not a new right’
A senior Election Commission official said, “This is not a new right. This has been happening for some time now. However, voters have very little information about this. Most people are not even aware of this option.” He clarified that abstaining from voting will certainly have no role in influencing the election outcome and the candidate who secures the highest number of valid votes, even Whatever be the margin of his victory, he will be declared elected. On whether the Commission will make voters aware about this option, the official said, “There is no such plan at this time.”
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