MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Tall claims by the Election Commission about curbing bogus voting through ‘indelible ink’ fell flat, as voters across the State on Tuesday complained of the indelible ink getting washed off within hours after exercising their franchise.
Speaking to reporters in Panjim, former CCP councillor and activist Patricia Pinto said, “I cast my vote and the ink was applied. But after some time I found that the ink was gone. What is the meaning of this? Is this an ink scam? I do not know. I don’t even know why the ink is applied to the finger? Is it just a formality?”
Pinto said the same thing was experienced by her friend Reboni Saha, who cast her vote at Socorro in Porvorim Assembly segment.
Former minister Alina Saldanha said, “I am shocked that the mark for the voter that is put on the finger has suddenly disappeared just because I poured a few drops of water after having a cup of tea. Now, if this is going to happen with all the other voters, how are we going to ensure that the voting is one on principle? Anybody may wash their fingers and come back to vote. I think the voting should be stopped, those incharge should come and check what is wrong and ensure that the ink that is used is the right ink. Because I remember having voted all these years and the mark would not go for even a month. I cast my vote at booth number 36 at Cansaulim.”
Saldanha said, “The incident was immediately brought to the notice of the presiding officer, who after consulting polling officials, replaced the indelible ink bottle. In the process the polling was halted for 10 minutes.”
A senior journalist, who exercised her franchise in Taleigao Assembly segment, too had a similar experience and complained to the presiding officer.
However, the North Goa District Election Officer’s (DEO) Office claimed that the complaints about disappearing or erasable ink from fingers are misleading and the ink is indeed indelible and long-lasting.
“Complaints about disappearing ink from a particular polling booth in North Goa Parliamentary constituency have surfaced on multiple social media handles. In this regard, officials from the District Election Officer’s (DEO) office have examined incidents and have reiterated that all such reports are misleading. Voters can be assured that the ink is indeed indelible and long-lasting,” the DEO office said in a statement.
