NOTA to get a symbol on all voting machines

The Election Commission here on Friday said all the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming assembly polls in five states will have a specially designed symbol for None of the above (NOTA).

"We have worked with the National Institute of Designs to prepare a symbol (for NOTA)," Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi announced at a press conference.

Till now the NOTA - an option provided to voters to reject all candidates as per a Supreme Court ruling - did not have symbol and used to appear in the last panel on all EVMs.

In a move that would have far-reaching impact for enhancing transparency and credibility in the poll process, Zaidi said in order to avoid confusion about "name sake" among candidates, the photographs of candidates would also appear on the voting machines' panels.

The NOTA option was introduced on October 11, 2013.

In September 2015, the Election Commission decided about a specific symbol\ to facilitate the voters in exercising their option on "none of the above" candidates.