Marker pens to replace ink at polling booths?

The State Election Commission is contemplating replacing indelible ink with marker pens. The marker pens are easy to carry and store, one pen can mark upto 1000 persons. The pens are already used in Afghanistan, there is demand from Malaysia, Cambodia, Nepal.

The State Election Commission is contemplating replacing indelible ink with marker pens at the forthcoming elections.  The Karnataka State Election Commission commissioner P N Srinivasachari visited the Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited on Friday.

Speaking to media persons after the visit he said in future instead of indelible ink, marker pens will be used. Explorations to this effect are already underway and in 2018 municipal, corporation elections the marker pens may be used at the polling booths instead of inks, he said.  Pens are being submitted for approval.

In the previous BBMP, Taluk Panchayath and Zilla Panchayat elections 2 lakh bottles of indelible ink costing Rs 2.75 crore were purchased. The marker pens are easy to carry and store. One pen can mark upto 1000 persons. The special pens developed are already used in Afghanistan elections. There is demand for it from Malaysia, Cambodia and Nepal.