NOTA Records Lowest Share In 2024 LS polls

New Delhi: The None of The Above (NOTA) option in EVMs recorded its lowest percentage share in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls since its introduction in 2013, according to data shared by the Election Commission.

The option was implemented in a Lok Sabha poll for the first time in 2014. According to the polls panel's 'Atlas-2024', a book containing data from last year's Lok Sabha polls, there has been a gradual decline in NOTA votes over the past three Lok Sabha elections, from 1.08 per cent in 2014 to 0.99 per cent in 2024.

While the percentage might seem small, the total number of NOTA votes can still be significant, especially in seats with comparatively lower winning margins, where the NOTA votes could have affected outcomes in some constituencies. The distribution of NOTA votes across the states exhibits significant variation, reflecting regional political dynamics, voter preferences and levels of political engagement. Bihar recorded the highest share (percentage) of NOTA votes at 2.07 per cent, followed closely by Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu with 2.06 per cent and Gujarat at 1.58 per cent. In contrast, Nagaland recorded the lowest share of NOTA votes at just 0.21 per cent, suggesting a stronger alignment or preference for the contesting candidates in the state. Such varying trends across states may be influenced by factors such as political competition, the prominence of regional parties.