International Dance Day

Don't get me wrong. If you had been reading my blog regularly, you might know that I ain't a fan of the voting process for electing a government. I didn't participate in voting in last elections. I had told you about that in my post "I Didn't Cast My Vote in Yesterday's State Assembly Poll. I Hate the Election Stain on My Finger! Don't You?".

Since today was the International Dance Day, I thought to take part in this dance of democracy 😊. Okay, I'm kidding here. But to be honest, I wanted to check if I can erase the so-called "indelible ink" that is put on every voter's finger as a proof of participation to avoid fraud of double voting. The ink is made to last for some weeks and that is sufficient to culminate the whole elction process.

My city voted for Lok Sabha elections today

Today was the fourth phase of election process that began on March 18^th. This seven phase election process will culminate on 19^th May and results will be declared on 23^rd May.

My city went for poll today. Everyone was excited to cast their vote in the morning Some like my parents went in the afternoon hours as there is hardly any crowd present during those hot summer hours. My uncle took my 90 year old grandma to the polling booth. She had never voted through an EVM (Electric Voting Machine). So in the morning she was asking me how to vote on an EVM. After explaining her about it, I asked whom she is going to vote for? On this question, she replied, "Whoever my son tells me to vote for. It's only he who is insisting me to go to vote this time." I just laughed at it.

Can indelible voting mark be erased?

I don't know how true these reports were but there could have been some isolated incidents. I didn't find any such reports in next phases. But I tried to do a little experiment on it.

I don't have a nail polish remover as I don't use nail polish. So What I did is that I dipped my fingers into coconut oil. I also spread the oil all over my palms and hands to not to make it very conspicuous. Then I dipped half of my handkerchief in water to make it wet enough. I folded it and put it in the pocket with its dry side out.

Now I immediately went to the polling station. Polling hours were almost over and they were just watching their watches to close the door. I presented my voting card and then proceeded to other table where a man put the indelible ink on my left index finger before I move towards the EVM. I dunno why but he put a little too much of that ink on my finger.

I moved on from there and escaping his eye, I put my hand in my pocket and inserted it in the wet portion of my handkerchief.

Unfortunately, there was an old woman before me at the EVM. She was finding it difficult to figure out the voting button. So it took some time before I could get into the voting booth. Once I was there, the first thing I did was to take the handkerchief out and rub its wet part on my index figure.

I don't know if it's legal to erase ink and clean my finger. But the secrecy of the voting process assures that no one is looking at you when you are in the voting booth ...no, not even a CCTV camera is there. After casting my vote, I came to my home with my finger still in the pocket.

The finger should not be exposed to any light. If you do, that purple-vioet ink will get darker and turn black. However, I did take it out sometimes and even washed it with hot water. But then I covered it back for about an hour.

Still I couldn't delete all of that mark. I don't have the photo of my finger when the ink was applied as cameras are not allowed inside a polling booth and I don't wanted to expose my finger in the light for taking a picture. But here's a photo I took one hour after voting:

You can see that most of the ink from my nails have disappeared as I was rubbing my nails harder against that wet cloth. But slight mark on skin below the nail still persists.

Here is another picture that I took just now:

See the colour on skin has turned a little dark now. I guess, I should have covered my finger a little longer.

To completely erase the ink, we should me more alert as the initial time just after the ink is put is more important. You should be able to put your finger immediately in the dark and wet corner of your pocket after the application of the ink. I think it would be easier to do when there is more crowd.

Whatever the result was, I enjoyed the process as it was fun for me. As a result, I also cast my vote for this election.

• What about you?
• Do you like indelible chemical stain mark on your finger?