The ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option continues to see limited support in the 2026 Assembly elections, with most voters choosing candidates instead of rejecting the ballot, according to data from the Election Commission of India.

Despite being introduced to empower voter choice, NOTA has once again remained below the 1% mark in most states.

NOTA vote percentage 2026: State-wise breakdown

Among the five regions that went to polls, Assam recorded the highest NOTA vote share at 1.29%, making it the only state to cross the 1% mark.

Other states reported lower figures:

West Bengal – 0.81%

Puducherry – 0.73%

Kerala – 0.58%

Tamil Nadu – 0.41%

The numbers highlight how NOTA remains a minor choice among Indian voters, with slight regional differences based on political awareness and voter sentiment.

Data shows that NOTA is gradually losing traction in Indian elections.

As per the Election Commission’s Atlas-2024 report, NOTA vote share in Lok Sabha elections has steadily declined:

2014: 1.08%

2019: Slight dip

2024: 0.99% (lowest ever)

This trend suggests that voters are increasingly preferring to choose candidates rather than reject all options.

What is NOTA and how does it work?

The NOTA option was introduced in 2013 following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India.

It allows voters to reject all candidates while maintaining secrecy. Before this, voters had to use Rule 49-O, which required disclosure at polling stations.

NOTA appears as the last button on EVMs, marked with a ballot symbol crossed in black.

Even if NOTA gets the highest votes, it does not trigger re-elections.

The Supreme Court has clarified that NOTA is only a symbolic choice and does not impact the final result.

With PTI inputs