- Electoral ink, indelible ink, electoral stain or phosphoric ink is a semi-permanent ink or dye that is applied to the forefinger (usually) of voters during elections in order to prevent electoral fraud such as double voting.
- Election ink uses silver nitrate
COMPOSITION
- Electoral stain typically contains a pigment for instant recognition, a silver nitrate which stains the skin on exposure to ultraviolet light, leaving a mark that is impossible to wash off and is only removed as external skin cells are replaced.
- Industry standard electoral inks contain 10%, 14% or 18% silver nitrate solution, depending on the length of time the mark is required to be visible.
LONGEVITY
- Election stain typically stays on skin for 72–96 hours, lasting 2 to 4 weeks on the fingernail and cuticle area.
- The election ink used puts a permanent mark on the cuticle area which disappears only with the growth of new nail.
- It can take up to 4 months for the stain to be replaced completely by new nail growth.
- Silver nitrate is an irritant and frequently harmful at 25% solution and above.
- So, Silver nitrate composition is maintained around 18%.
- Electoral stain is traditionally violet in colour, before the photosensitive element takes effect to leave a black or brown mark.
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