Negative voting gaining ground in India

Dissenting 'None of the Above' option worries political parties

Swathi and Vijay with their artwork in the background, which urges voters in Hyderabad, capital of the Indian state of Telangana, to consider negative voting. PHOTO: SWATHI AND VIJAY
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Before voters in Hyderabad cast their ballots on April 11 for the ongoing parliamentary polls, they were greeted by an intriguing notice.

It was graffiti that asked them to be on the watch for "missing honest politicians". And if they fail to find any, the notice urged them to consider the Nota (None of the Above) option, as negative voting is known in India.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 19, 2019, with the headline Negative voting gaining ground in India. Subscribe