The Times of India

No vote' option not yet in EVMs

B Sivakumar, TNN, Jan 20, 2011, 04.47am IST

CHENNAI: The 49 O' option, which gives a voter the choice of not voting for any candidate, will be not be included in electronic voting machines (EVMs) before the upcoming assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.
"The move to include a button in the EVM for the 49 O' option requires amending the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. As the time is short and legal implications are involved, no additional button will be there in EVMs for Tamil Nadu elections, " election commissioner V S Sampath told TOI. The existing option of voters asking the presiding officer for exercising the 49 O' option in the polling booth will continue, he said.
Incidentally, the Electoral Integrity Forum, formed recently by retired civil servants in Chennai, has sent a memorandum to the chief election commissioner seeking to include the option in EVMs.

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"It has been made clear to the EC by various forums and also through a writ petition in the Supreme Court in 2004 that the present system of exercising the option goes against the provision of secrecy," said M G Devasahayam, convenor of the forum.
Sources in the election commission also said the CEC had forwarded the memorandum to the legal cell and is likely to seek the opinion of constitutional experts.
"Election Commission will not go in for a special awareness campaign to educate voters on the option as it will be against the ethics. As part of general awareness campaigns, the EC will also mention about the not to vote option," Sampath said.
Asked whether a voter who exercises this option will be considered to have voted, Sampath said it should be the case. On the fear that the voting percentage is likely to come down if more people come to know of the option, Sampath said the fear was there but it will be known only if voters exercise the option during elections.
State's chief electoral officer Praveenkumar said: "The EC would first make the officials sitting in the polling booths aware of the option. Many officials are lethargic or ignorant of the rule and refuse to help the voter in exercising the option." On creating awareness among the voters, Praveenkumar said the election commission has to take steps in this regard.
Nearly 10,000 voters exercised the option in Chennai and Sriperumbudur constituencies in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Many people hit by the airport expansion project exercised the option and in several booths the officials were caught unawares when voters wanted to exercise the option.