The 'election ink' on our thumb has become one of the most defining features of voting. Here's how it started and why removing it is a crime.
draws nearer, some South Africans may already be thinking ahead to the ink mark on their left thumb – and how best to social media confirm that they’ve queued to ‘have their say’.
However, voters are warned not to commit electoral fraud – and it’s all thanks to the mark on their thumb.But how did this all begin, and why has it been put in place? Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions that crop up on election day – and the grave consequences it’s associated with.The 1962 general election in IndiaTo this day, it has been heralded as the most “fair and just” method of separating those who have voted from those who have decided against it.It’s mainly used as a security feature to ensure that no-one attempts to vote multiple times.
The ink lasts on the skin for a minimum of 72 hours, comfortably lasting the entire length of an election day.The Electoral Commission reminds voters that it is a criminal offence to vote twice or to vote when not registered which, if convicted can earn a person up to 10 years in jail.– in an effort to go and cast more than one ballot – you could be thrown in jail for it.
“The indelible ink is one of a number of security checks and safeguards built into the election process but the Commission wishes to remind all voters that an attempt to remove the ink mark constitutes electoral fraud and is punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
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