How to dispose the used bottles of indelible ink?
Answers
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