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"None of the above" (NOTA), or none for short, also known as "against all" or a "scratch" vote, is a ballot option in some jurisdictions or organizations, designed to allow the voter to indicate disapproval of the candidates in a voting system. It is based on the principle that consent requires the ability to withhold consent in an election, just as they can by voting "No" on ballot questions. It must be contrasted with "abstention", in which a voter does not cast a ballot.
Entities that include "None of the Above" on ballots as standard procedure include Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria („Не подкрепям никого“, "I don't support anyone"), Canada, Colombia (voto en blanco), France (vote blanc, "blank vote"), Greece (λευκό, blank), India ("None of the above"), Indonesia (kotak kosong, "empty box"), Mongolia, the Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Peru, Spain (voto en blanco, "blank vote"), Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Uruguay, the U.S. state of Nevada (None of These Candidates).
Russia had such an option on its ballots (Против всех, "against all") until it was abolished in 2006.[1] Bangladesh introduced this option (না ভোট, "no vote") in 2008.[2] Pakistan introduced this option on ballot papers for the 2013 Pakistan elections, but the Election Commission of Pakistan later rejected it.[3] Beginning with the 2016 presidential election, and 2017 parliamentary one,[4] Bulgaria introduced a 'none of the above' option, which received in the presidential elections 5.59% of the vote in the first round and 4.47% in the run-off. It was also used in the 2019 mayoral election of Sofia.[5] Kazakhstan originally included the option (Бәріне қарсымын, "against all") from 1995 to 2004, and from 2021 onwards after reintroducing the option,[6] which notably received 5.8% of the vote in the 2022 presidential election.[7]
When "none of the above" is listed on a ballot, there is the possibility of NOTA receiving a majority or plurality of the vote, and so "winning" the election. This possibility is not purely theoretical, as NOTA has indeed won occasionally. In such a case, a variety of formal procedures may be invoked, including having the position remain vacant, having the position filled by appointment, re-opening nominations, or holding another election (in a body operating under parliamentary procedure), or it may have no effect, as in India and the US state of Nevada, where the next highest total wins regardless.
- ^ "Russians Divided Over Electoral Reforms: Angus Reid Global Monitor". Angus-reid.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Bangladesh amends election law incorporating 'no' vote option". The Times of India. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "'None of the above' vote to be added to ballots: ECP". The Express Tribune. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Гласовете 'Не подкрепям никого' няма да влияят върху бариерата за влизане в НС". Investor.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Квадратчето 'не подкрепям никого' отново в бюлетините за балотажа". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Мамашұлы, Асылхан (18 October 2022). ""Бәріне қарсымын". Сайлау нәтижесіне әсер етпейтін графаның мәні бар ма?". Азаттық радиосы (in Kazakh). Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Górecki, Wojciech (22 November 2022). "Kazakhstan: elections without an alternative". OSW Centre for Eastern Studies. Retrieved 13 July 2023.