With reference to the ' None of the Above ' (NOTA) option on electronic voting machines and ballot papers, consider the following statements:

$1$. The citizens of India have the Right to Negative Vote by exercising the ' None of the Above ' (NOTA) option in EVMs and ballot papers.

$2$. If NOTA gets the highest votes in an election, then the election is conducted again.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Elections

1. In a representative democracy, elections play in crucial role in selecting the representatives of the people.
2. In order to conduct free and fair elections, it is important to have rules and regulations.
3. These rules and regulations are generally referred to as election laws

4. The major election laws are:

i. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act 1952: This law applies for election to the offices of President and Vice-President of India
ii. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules 1974: These are the of rules to the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act 1952
iii. Representation of the People Act 1950: This law mainly deals with the preparation of electoral rolls and their revisions or updation.
iv. The Registration of Electors Rules 1960: These are some important rules relating to the superintendence of the election’s electoral roll and its updating, along with registration and verification of elector details. It provides guidelines for the registration of eligible electors and the issuance of Voter ID cards. This also contains rules on the inclusion of eligible voters, the exclusion of non-eligible voters and card corrections
v. Representation of the People Act 1951: Concerns post-election issues related to disputes arising, acts of malpractice etc. All such disputes shall be brought before the State High Court of the constituency in question
vi. Conduct of Elections Rules 1961: Detailed rules established by the Central Government and the Election Commission pursuant to Section 169 of the Act for each level of the conduct of elections. Those include written notice for holding elections, nomination registration, withdrawal of candidates, review of endorsements, holding the polls and counting votes. In addition, the result-based constitution of the houses is also categorized according to these rules
vi. Election Symbols Order 1968: This is the order authorizing the Election Commission to recognize and allocate symbols to political parties.
vii. Anti-defection Law 1985: This legislation was enacted by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment during Rajiv Gandhi 's tenure and is found in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution also known as the Anti-Defection Act. When a member of a House belonging to a specific party willingly gives up his or her political party membership, or votes or discontinues voting, contrary to the course of his or her political party, or if an independent member joins a political party after the election, that particular member will be liable to be defected.

5. Electoral process

6. Elections involve a complex process with multiple stakeholders involved at various levels. Some of the important steps involved are:

i. Delimitation of Constituencies
ii. Preparation of Electoral Rolls
iii. Allotment of Symbols
iv. Recording of votes
v. Counting and verification of votes
vi. General administration of the entire election machinery

7. Electoral reform
8. The important issue related to elections are:

i. Money power
ii. Non-serious candidates splitting votes
iii. Election related violence
iv. Criminalization of politics

9. Electoral Reforms that have been undertaken

i. Electronic Voting Machines with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
ii. Supreme Court judgement that prevents anyone who has been convicted of a crime and receives more than two years imprisonment from contesting in any election for more than six years.
iii. Prevention of sale of alcohol.
iv. Bye-elections to any House of Parliament or a State Legislature will now be held within six months of the occurrence of the vacancy in that House.

10. Electoral reforms that are required

i. Limit on the expenditure by political parties, similar to the limit on expenditure by a candidate.
ii. Reform the postal ballot system to encourage the marginalized to vote.
iii. Prevention of exit polls, opinion polls, and surveys, especially in a multi-phase election.
iv. Election commission should have a separate secretariat and independent recruitment should be undertaken to the Election Commission by the UPSC
v. Funding of the Election commission should be treated as charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
vi. Ban on political advertisements by the governments using public funds.