HP to introduce NOTA in panchayat by-elections

In a first, state election commission will introduce NOTA (None of the Above) option in the upcoming local bodies' elections in Himachal Pradesh.
The NOTA option which was exercised by voters during the Lok Sabha polls would be introduced in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and urban local bodies' elections, state Election Commissioner T G Negi said today.
NOTA would be introduced for the first time in PRI by-elections slated for November 30 and in general elections to PRIs in December 2015 in the state, he added.
As paper ballot is used in panchayat elections, a sticker would be pasted in the ballot for NOTA option.

As the general elections to PRIs are due in December 2015, the term of members elected in by-election would be about one year.
Polling will be held for 2 seats of zila parishad--Kangra and Kinnaur, 13 panchayat samiti members, 34 pradhans, 27 uppradhans and 175 gram panchayat members.

Negi said that even if the highest number of votes is polled for NOTA, it would not affect the final outcome as the candidate with maximum votes would be declared as the winner.
The elections to 3,243 panchayats were held in December 2010 to elect 19,413 panchayat members, 3,243 presidents and vice presidents of panchayats, 1,681 panchayat samiti members and 251 zila parishad members.

Five-year term of these members would expire in December 2015.
Negi said that there are about 47 lakh voters for the polls.
Besides getting the list of voters at booth level from the website of Election Commission of India, data of persons registered under MNREGA would also procured to update the lists and ward-wise lists would be prepared, he said.
"We have sought permission from MNREGA to use its data which has been recorded panchayat ward-wise while the voter lists of Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are prepared booth-wise.