Friday May 3, 2013

GE13: Stain caused by silver nitrate cannot be washed off

By RAZAK AHMAD
razak@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The stain on a voter's finger marked with indelible ink is caused by a chemical compound that creates a mark, which cannot be washed off.

According to Rayudu Laboratories Pvt Ltd, an Indian company that manufactures the ink, the chemical compound silver nitrate contained in the ink stains the skin upon exposure to natural light.

“Industry standard electoral inks contain 10%, 14% or 18% silver nitrate solution, depending on the length of time the marking stain is required to be visible,” said the company in information posted on its website.

The Philippines Commission on Elections, in a statement on its website that outlined the qualities of the ink used for its polls, said the ink must have a minimum of 7% silver nitrate.

It must also be proven that the stain caused by the ink would not be erased by a number of liquids.

These, the commission said, included ethyl alcohol, benzene, gasoline, soap, solvent, oxalic acid, 95% bleaching solvent, acetone, lacquer thinner, brake fluid, ascorbic acid, water and kerosene.

A United Nations Development Programme document offering recommendations on the conduct of elections said it was considered a best practice to use indelible ink with between 5% and 25% silver nitrate.

The international body said in the document that a variety of possible methods could be considered to apply indelible ink, including by dipping the finger in a bottle, a marker pen or spray.

“However, it is crucial that tests of indelible ink are carried out as per the instructions of the supplier,” the document read.

There have been a number of claims from a number of countries in recent years that indelible ink can be washed off, but it is not clear whether the claims are genuine and whether the cause was due to improper use or application.

In 2009, an article in Britain's Telegraph newspaper said numerous claims had been made in the run-up to Afghanistan's presidential elections that the indelible ink used to mark voters could be easily washed off using household detergents.

The article said the ink had been supplied by the United Nations.

The Times of India newspaper in an article on the Indian general election that same year reported that Arun Bhatia, an election candidate in Pune, had lodged complaints with officials over the ink.

The candidate said he found that the ink could be “rubbed off”, which could lead to multiple voting.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

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Friday May 3, 2013

GE13: Stain caused by silver nitrate cannot be washed off

By RAZAK AHMAD razak@thestar.com.my

By RAZAK AHMAD
razak@thestar.com.my