Let ‘None of the above’ be a choice on our ballots

Every election, we are given the freedom to choose a leader. This is democracy at its best. However, are we also free to vote “none of the above” because the candidates for an elective post are unsuitable to be our leaders? Or do we rest content with the idea of having to make an unreasonable choice? Or worse, shall we allow the surveys to “dictate” our choices for the next leaders of this country?

My cousin, Homer Rigunan, who hails from Baguio City, phoned me recently and proposed the possibility of having in our voting system a “None of the above” (Nota) box which, when checked or marked by the voter, would be tantamount to his rejection or disapproval of the candidates on the ballot. Wikipedia says that among the states that have Nota on their ballots are India (Nota), the State of Nevada (None of these candidates) in the United States, Spain (voto en blanco) and Colombia (voto en blanco). Russia offered such an option on its ballots until it was abolished in 2006. Bangladesh introduced this practice in 2008. Pakistan adopted this for its elections in 2013 but its election commission rejected it.

I now understand the concern of my cousin who feels displeased with the petty political bickering our national leaders have busied themselves with, especially those eyeing to run in the 2016 elections. Their political personas do not fit my cousin’s standard of genuinely caring candidates. If we are to use more unkind words, these are somewhat callous, egocentric, insatiable characters, far from the compassionate, gentle and loving leaders we dream of.

Meanwhile, it is disheartening for the aspirants who are yet virtually unknown but deserving to run for the presidency or for the Senate. Even though they are qualified, their names are hardly mentioned, if at all, in barbershops, carinderias, cafeterias and the like because they are unheard of, because they don’t have the funds and a well-oiled political machinery.

If Nota is to be another “choice” on our ballots and gets the majority vote, this would send a clear signal that our people do not like the candidates fielded by the political parties.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO,
assistant city council secretary,
Marikina City