<P> Entities that include "None of the Above" on ballots as standard procedure include India ("None of the above"), Greece (λευκό, white), the U.S. state of Nevada (None of These Candidates), Ukraine (Проти всіх, "against all"), Spain (voto en blanco, "white vote"), and Colombia (voto en blanco). Russia had such an option on its ballots (Против всех, "against all") until it was abolished in 2006 . Bangladesh introduced this option (না ভোট) in 2008 . Pakistan introduced this option on ballot papers for the 2013 Pakistan elections, but the Election Commission of Pakistan later rejected it . Beginning with the 2016 presidential election, Bulgaria introduced a' none of the above' option, which received 5.59% of the vote in the first round and 4.47% in the run - off . </P> <P> When "None of the Above" is listed on a ballot, there is the possibility of NOTA receiving a majority or plurality of the vote, and so "winning" the election . In such a case, a variety of formal procedures may be invoked, including having the office remain vacant, having the office filled by appointment, re-opening nominations or holding another election (in a body operating under parliamentary procedure), or it may have no effect whatsoever, as in India and the US state of Nevada, where the next highest total wins regardless . </P> <P> In 1991, elections that led to the break - up of the Soviet Union, the Soviet version of "none of above" led to new elections with new candidates in 200 races of the 1,500 - seat Congress of People's Deputies . More than 100 incumbents representing the Communist Party of the Soviet Union were defeated in the run - off, leading to Boris Yeltsin to later say the "none of the above" option "helped convince the people they had real power even in a rigged election, and (it) played a role in building true democracy ." </P> <P> Due to the Spanish voting regulations (legislación electoral española), (in Spanish) the blank ballot is recognized as' none of the above' (voto en blanco) but has very little chance to influence the distribution of seats within a democratic election . It is mostly considered as a statistical indicator of candidatures' disapproval . The blank ballots only increase the amount of valid votes, raising the threshold of votes (3% and 5% depending on the election) which every political party has to overcome to be fully considered . The parties over the threshold get their seats according to the D'Hondt method . </P>

Nota option was first used in the election in which year