What happens if nota wins?
It's a common query, but the UK doesn't have an official NOTA option. People can 'spoil' their ballot paper as a protest, perhaps by writing 'none' on it. However, this has no legal impact on the result. Even if spoiled ballots were the largest group, they are simply discounted. The candidate with the most valid votes in the constituency still wins the seat. It's a feature of our First Past The Post system. A 'win' for spoiled ballots is purely a symbolic gesture; it doesn't trigger a new election or disqualify candidates.
Many people misunderstand this. NOTA is just a protest option. Legally, it has no effect on result. It doesn’t disqualify candidates, doesn’t cancel election. Even if 90% votes go to NOTA, the candidate with 10% wins.
NOTA = None Of The Above. If majority of voters select NOTA in an election, the candidate with the next highest valid votes still wins. NOTA does not cancel or re-run elections in India. It is only a way to express rejection. So even if NOTA gets the most votes, the person with maximum valid candidate votes becomes winner.
NOTA is symbolic. It tells political parties: “we don’t like your candidates.” But law doesn’t allow re-election based on NOTA. So result remains valid.
If NOTA gets maximum votes, the runner-up among actual candidates wins. It’s as simple as that. It’s frustrating, but that’s the rule.