Ink Issues, Code International
Reprinted from
Delivering the Vote
Spring 1999
Ask CODE Inc.
Question:
We are finding the cost of purchasing ink quite expensive. It seems the price is on the rise and becoming almost prohibitive, is there any way we can reduce the cost?
Answer:
Many electoral commissions practice the method of marking fingers with indelible voter ink. The most common practice is to dip a voter's finger into a container of ink up to and including the fingernail. This method uses far more ink than other methods.
To mark 500 voters using traditional dipping methods, each voting station requires at least two 80cc bottles of ink. When the ink is applied with an applicator, the same 500 voters can be marked with a 5cc bottle. The smaller bottle is a fraction of the cost and less expensive to ship. Sometimes the application of smaller amounts of ink is regarded as too time consuming. However, experience shows this is a misconception. Properly trained voting personnel can apply a smaller amount without any delay.
Some commissions are marking the open palm of a voter's hand with indelible ink, a stamp pad and a rubber stamp of the commission's logo. This method is rapid and economical.
Newly developed products, which use smaller quantities of ink and are less expensive, are also available. Indelible ink can be purchased in bottles with roll on applicators, and many invisible indelible inks are applied with a spray applicator. Commissions should try all the available options and decide what format is best suited to their needs.
