Thread: Norwich North By Election to be 23rd July

BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Norwich poll set for end of July

NOTA (None of the Above)

Since politicians will not permit None of the Above on the ballot paper, NOTA will act as the repository for all those who wish to vote for 'None of the Above' at the forthcoming by election in Norwich North. NOTA Candidates only stand in order to facilitate the option of ‘None of the Above’ for those members of the electorate who would otherwise not vote.

*NOTA was registered as a political party on the 2nd March 2009.

NOTA (None Of The Above) exists to advocate, promote and facilitate the principle of the positive abstention facility on ballot papers in future elections.

Why NOTA?
• All legitimate consent requires the ability to withhold consent; "None of the Above" gives the voter the ballot option to withhold consent from an election to office, just as voters can cast a "No" vote on a ballot question.
• Would end the "must hire" elections where voters are often forced to vote for the least unacceptable candidate, the all too familiar "lesser evil."
• A candidate must obtain voter consent to be elected, even if running unopposed (Speaker of House of Commons).
• Voters would decide the fate of the political parties' choices, instead of the parties deciding the voters' choices.
• It should reduce negative campaigning by encouraging candidates to campaign for their own candidacy rather than against their opponent's candidacy.
• Many voters and non voters, who now register their disapproval of all candidates for an office by not voting, could cast a meaningful vote.
• The meaning of elections should become more clear, since voters would no longer be tempted to vote for a presumed losing candidate, with whom they really do not agree, as a protest vote.
• Campaign contributors who give to all candidates to insure
"access" would no longer be sure they backed the winner;
in general, buying elections should become a more
uncertain enterprise.
• Improves checks and balances between voters and political parties, especially needed in jurisdictions with one dominant political party or nearly identical alternatives.
• Political parties would nominate candidates knowing those candidates must be a better choice for voters than "None of the Above."
• Follow-up by-elections are far less costly than electing unacceptable candidates to office.
• Office holders, knowing they face "None of the Above" in the next election, would be encouraged to insure their re-election by focusing more on doing a good job in office and less on attempting to prevent the emergence of an effective opposition candidate.
• When pre-election polls include "None of the Above", the feedback from voters should help guide candidates and parties.
• If "None of the Above" does not win, the reported NOTA vote would help identify those offices for which voters might be more receptive to new candidates in a future election as well as limits the winner's mandate.
• Should make public service more attractive by improving the quality of those elected to office.
• Opportunities for election fraud should be reduced because fewer blank votes for an office would be cast.
• It is a relatively simple, fair, sensible, accomplishable and permanent improvement to our current system, hopefully making for a more democratic and ultimately stronger Britain.

NOTA - an idea whose time has arrived.
Contact@nota.org.uk

NOTA doesnt really work well when you are 3rd in a long list , so thus, it's ok to vote for those below you?

NOTA for me. Certainly not the Tories, Labour, Libs, Greens or UKIP.