I've actually had the (dis)pleasure of witnessing elections in which NOTA won despite the presence of qualified and competent nominees. They were grotesque in execution, poisoned the group dynamic and led to the departure of humiliated but badly needed volunteers. The people involved in running the above campaigns saw the error of what they'd done -- too late to bring back the departed volunteers, though -- and implemented statutes to prevent NOTA's ever being done again in those groups. That was more than 20 years ago; I really never thought I'd encounter this absolute perversion of democracy ever again. Which of course means it's natural I'd find it within the alternate reality that is ICANN -- but thankfully as a minority PoV. Whatever theoretical bliss is envisioned by having the option, IMO, is overwhelmingly counterbalanced by the recriminations and hurt feelings -- not always overt but always in evidence, when such a horrific scheme is implemented. This is especially true within a volunteer body that needs all the human resources it can get, and for which the leadership positions have very little real power. - Evan