This question is posted by ACE on behalf of Aleida Ferreyra, United Nations Development Programme

Original Question: 

We are interested in hearing of experiences on how to dispose of a large number of unused bottles of indelible ink with silver nitrate content in a safe and environmentally friendly way. 

Summary of responses: 

Many countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, and Philippines, use indelible ink to guard against double voting during elections. ACE practitioners suggested three ways of disposing of unused bottles of indelible ink with silver nitrate content in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Two of the suggested methods emphasize reuse, while another practitioner suggested burning the ink to use the silver nitrate in cloth tinctures or ceramics.  

There are several requirements for storing indelible ink containing silver nitrate as it is classified as an oxidant, and is therefore a hazardous and flammable material. When used used, the ink does not pose a threat. However, certain protocols must be followed to ensure safety during long term storage.  

Another suggestion offered by practitioners was to transfer leftover ink to the electoral management bodies (EMBs) of other countries that use ink during voting. Highly efficient, safe, and economical, this suggestion could also serve as a starting point for improved communication and coordination among EMBs.  

A third practitioner suggested burning or recycling the ink to use it for cloth tinctures or ceramics. This is a highly technical process that should be carried out by organizations or companies that are familiar with the practice.  

Finally, one practitioner noted that EMBs could generally re-evaluate the use indelible ink during elections to determine if it is the best and most resource-efficient way to prevent double voting. For example, a greater focus on using voter rolls at polling stations to track voting in lieu of using indelible ink may be a possibility, provided there is the proper oversight.  

Contributing Members:

• Gakenosi Motshwarakgole 
• Kisimba Lumbwe Albert 
• Mohamed Musa Abdulkadir 
• Francisco Morales Gomez

The most important disposal of all is NOT to use it at all in any election. Botswana has resoughted to underlining of voters in the voters roll and the signing by the presiding officer who is the election official at a polling station. This was a way to replace the use of ink. This was one of the ways to dispose off the ink. This would curb even the production of the substance, the bottled and also save the cost of disposing it and the environmental effect it may cause. I do not have any scientific way of disposing the ink, but was just giving an option that can also solve the issue of ink and bottles. 

Thank you.

Le climat joue un rôle très important dans la conservation de l’encre indélébile et de l’encre tout court. Dans certains pays qui ont eu à commander ce matériels et qui ont reporté les élections cet encre étaient stockés dans environnement suffisamment airé. Avec plus 15 mètres de distance ente le dernier carton et le plafond et de 7m ²  d’espace vide autour des cartons, ils ont résistés plus de 16 mois avant leurs utilisation. 

Les ofrezco en unos días encontrar la solución para dar de baja esos químicos de tinta preservando el ambiente de efectos tóxicos.

SE deberí quemarlos o reciclarlos para uso de tinturas de tela o cerámica.