Monday May 6, 2013

GE13: Red and blue painted on voters’ fingers

(From left) Siblings Norhela Johari, Juliana Johari and Zuriah Johari showing their fingers marked with the indelible ink after casting their votes at SM Tunku Abdul Rahman in Mergong, Alor Setar, Kedah on Sunday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dark blue is the colour of the indelible ink painted on voters.

This is the second colour used at GE13. The first, a shade of red known as merah buah saga (red bead) was used on advanced voters, comprising security forces and their spouses, who voted on April 30.

The use of two different ink colours was to prevent double voting.

Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof acknowledged that there were hiccups in the initial use of the ink.

Several advanced voters had discovered that the ink marks on their fingers could be washed off.

The EC said this was because those on duty had not shaken the bottles as instructed.

The ink contains silver nitrate and will take between five to seven days to wash off.

It is made of natural ingredients.

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

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