Negative voting may not have bearing on outcome of polls

The introduction of negative voting may not have any bearing on the outcome of the election as these would amount to "invalid votes" like it used to be during the ballot paper era.
The apex court's judgement, however, grants legal status to such votes and the secrecy of such voting would be maintained which was not there after introduction of EVMs.
"Even though such a ballot paper would be considered as an invalid vote, the voter still had the right not to vote for anybody without compromising on his/her right of secrecy.
"However, with the introduction of EVMs, the said option of not voting for anybody without compromising the right of secrecy is not available to the voter since the voting machines did not have 'None of the Above' (NOTA) button," a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said.

Election Commission sources also said though the electoral law on the issue is silent, the new 'none of the above' (NOTA) option may virtually amount to an invalid vote and those getting the highest votes among the candidates will be declared the winner.