Right to reject matters

While citizens have the freedom to vote, they also have the right not to vote.

Adult franchise is an essential civil and political right for a country that practices democracy. In many electoral systems, voters’ choice is constrained to select from the list of candidates nominated by the political parties. As Nepal struggles with the problem of political instability, recurring leadership and increasing apathy, the right to reject—practicalised by including the option of ‘none of the above’ (NOTA) in the ballot—allows citizens to formally express dissatisfaction with the nominated candidates.