None of the Above (NOTA)
Much was made of UKIP’s success at the recent local elections at the expense of the three main parties, and most notably the Tories. Traditionally it has been the Lib Dems that surge in the local elections as people use their vote to protest against the ruling party, but UKIP seems to have taken on that role with the Lib Dems in coalition.
It is currently difficult to gauge whether the gains by UKIP are the public wanting to give the Tory-Lib Dem coalition a bloody nose, or true support for UKIP’s anti-Europe policies and their smoking and beer drinking leader. However, if a None of the Above (NOTA) option is added to the ballot as proposed recently by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), then it will become very apparent how much of that swing is voter disenchantment.
Spain and Columbia have the “voto en blanco”, and Greece has a “white” option where the electorate can make their voice heard that none of the available candidates are worth their vote, but what would happen in the UK? Currently voter turnout is very poor, especially amongst younger people, making it easy for politicians to ignore their desires and claim political apathy. But whilst some may be apathetic, many others simply do not see a candidate they believe will represent their interests, and they see business as usual in Westminster no matter who wins the public vote. A vote for NOTA would be a true protest vote, a protest that would avoid causing the major parties to lurch to the fringes of their beliefs to “protect their base”, it is a simple vote of no confidence.
There are downsides to a NOTA option, however. It is a distinctly negative option, one where people complain of the problems but do not embrace any ideas for a solution, and it could ask some interesting questions if the NOTA option garnered more votes than any real candidates.
Is NOTA the ultimate protest vote, or just a depressing conclusion to ever higher levels of voter apathy? Let us know in the comments.