EC: Will comply with SC's negative voting verdict

The Election Commission Friday said it would ensure compliance with the Supreme Court verdict on negative voting as "expeditiously" as possible.

In a historic verdict earlier Friday, the Supreme Court said that for a vibrant democracy, the voter must have the right to reject all the candidates in the electoral fray with the option of "none of the above (NOTA)" in electronic voting machines (EVM) and on ballot papers.

The apex court directed the Election Commission to make necessary provision in the ballot papers/EVMs and provide a button for NOTA so the voters who come to the polling booth and decide not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray, are able to exercise their right, the commission said in a release.

In accordance with the order of the Supreme Court "None of the above" shall be printed in a separate panel on the ballot paper below the name of the last contesting candidate, it said.

This ballot paper shall be affixed on the ballot unit of the EVM. If the voter presses the button next to "none of the above", his desire not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray will get recorded in the EVM in secrecy, the release said.