Bihar’s 2025 election reveals NOTA’s power as 9.1 lakh voters reject all candidates

A silent protest reshapes democracy. In Bihar’s latest election, NOTA votes outnumbered victory margins—proving discontent can rewrite the rules.

, and Administrator

2025 November 26 . 3:29 AM

1 min read

people are sitting on the chairs. in front of them there is a table on which there is a jug, papers... — people are sitting on the chairs. in front of them there is a table on which there is a jug, papers and pen. behind that there are people seated on the chairs. the person at the center is holding a microphone and speaking. behind them there is a white and blue flag. at the back there is a white and blue background on which honorable camara de is written.

Bihar’s 2025 election reveals NOTA’s power as 9.1 lakh voters reject all candidates

Bihar’s 2025 assembly election saw a record voter turnout of 66.91%, with over 5 crore people casting their ballots. Among these, more than 9.1 lakh voters chose NOTA (None of the Above), making up 1.81% of the total votes counted.

The Election Commission of India compiled the data, revealing that NOTA votes played a decisive role in several races. In 27 constituencies, the number of NOTA votes exceeded the winning candidate’s margin of victory.

With 9.1 lakh voters opting for NOTA, the 2025 election highlights its recurring impact on close contests. The trend suggests that in some constituencies, NOTA could continue shaping future electoral dynamics. The Election Commission’s data confirms its role as a measurable factor in Bihar’s political landscape.