CHENNAI : After much debate, election rules allowed a voter to say "no" to all the candidates, an option that went away with the advent of the Electronic Voting Machines.

But many Chennai residents complained that the returning officers did not allow them to exercise the much-publicised provision of Sec. 49(o) of the rules — a "not to vote" alternative, while registering their presence at the booth.

Voters who came to the polling booths determined to use this provision said they were actively discouraged by the staff from doing so.

Archana, a young voter from Ambattur coming under the Villivakkam constituency said: "I really wanted to use this as a protest vote ... as I and my friend who went there because we felt no one was doing anything for the people... " But at the polling booth at Ramaswamy School, Ambattur, "we were asked to vote for an independent candidate. In such a public place, we cannot even raise our voice. We just went ahead with voting... "

Another resident of Kolathur, A. Peter, also complained that polling staff were not briefed clearly about usage of this provision. The relevant forms where the voter should sign apparently were also not given to the voters.

Raghavendra, a resident of Royapettah, said the polling staff advised him not to exercise the option. "They said it was not in my interest to use the provision." As it would be easy for political parties to identify those who use the option, threats and intimidation might follow for those using 49 (o), he was told. The anonymity involved in invalidating a ballot paper no longer exists, says Vidya, who lives in Velachery.

A voter at Besant Nagar complained that the polling officer in the booth reportedly asked him, "What is 49 (o)?" He said he was forced to cast a vote and not allowed to exercise his "I do not want to vote" right because polling booth officials were unaware of the rules.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Naresh Gupta, some polling officers were not aware of this provision. "They might have got a bit perplexed and could not guide the voters properly. But this did not affect the poll process," he told reporters.

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