That means one lakh-plus Mumbaikars felt there was no point in voting for a particular political party in recently held BMC elections; of the overall votes polled across the city, the highest number and percentage of NOTA votes were polled in the western suburbs
A polling officer demonstrates the None of the Above (NOTA) option during the Delhi Assembly elections of 2013. Representation pic/PTI
Over 1 lakh voters in Mumbai chose not to vote for any political party in the recently held civic elections. According to the data from the election commission, a total of 1,00,327 Mumbaikars voted NOTA out of the 54,76,043 votes polled in the elections on January 15, registering a voter turnout of 52 per cent, of which 1.83 per cent of votes went to NOTA.
Highest NOTA per cent
Of the overall votes polled across the city, the highest number and percentage of NOTA votes were polled in the western suburbs. A total of 47,936 NOTA votes were polled in the western suburbs from Dahisar to Bandra, comprising 1.9 per cent of the total votes polled. This also corresponds to the highest voter turnout that was recorded in the western suburbs of Borivli and Dahisar.
People stand in a queue to cast their vote for BMC election 2026 on January 15. FILE PIC/SHADAB KHAN
The highest voter turnout of 62.04 per cent was recorded in ward 18 in Borivli, followed by a 60.67 per cent turnout recorded at ward 4 in Dahisar. 29,101 NOTA votes were polled in the eastern suburbs from Bhandup to Sion, comprising 1.7 per cent of the total votes polled, while 23,290 NOTA votes were polled in Colaba, Mahim, and Matunga, comprising 1.8 per cent of the total votes polled.
Whereas in South Mumbai, ward 226 received the highest number of NOTA — 1404 votes — comprising 5.1 per cent of the total votes polled. The total voter turnout in this ward was 50 per cent.
What is NOTA?
The Election Commission of India introduced a specific symbol, like other election symbols shown below, for the ‘None of the Above (NOTA)’ option to facilitate the voters in exercising their NOTA option. It appears in the last panel on all EVMs.
The NOTA option is displayed on the EVMs and all other ballot papers with effect from October 11, 2013, pursuant to the Supreme Court's order dated September 27, 2013.
According to the ECI, the main objective of the 'NOTA' option is to enable electors who do not wish to vote for any of the candidates to exercise their right not to vote for any candidate without violation of the secrecy of their decision.
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