IPN begins production of indelible ink for the upcoming elections in Mexico

• Approximately 350 thousand marker-type applicators will be produced, which will be used to mark the thumbs of around 98 million people

• The indelible liquid contains special security features

The Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) has commenced production of indelible ink for the 2024 electoral process. This involves the fabrication of nearly 350 thousand marker-type applicators, which will be used by the Instituto Nacional Electoral (National Electoral Institute) (INE) to mark the thumbs of citizens who will choose various representatives on June 2nd, through 20 thousand federal and local positions.

Filiberto Vázquez Dávila, head of the Production Plant and professor at the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), stated that the IPN is preparing an indelible ink marker with specific security features, ensuring that no individual can vote twice during the electoral day.

He explained that each marker contains 15 milliliters of ink and is labeled with usage instructions, along with the logos of the Politécnico, the INE, and the ENCB. Furthermore, each applicator has a security seal that can only be opened on Election Day.

Vázquez Dávila noted that his team of 30 people is diligently working on various production processes of the indelible liquid, ranging from container configuration, cleaning, and filling to tip placement, sealing, and storage in labeled boxes.

The biochemical engineer explained that the components of the indelible ink make it a biocide, ensuring that citizens can be reassured as the liquid is not a transmitter of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or any of its variants. He added that although the indelible ink was not designed to counter viruses or bacteria, it is highly effective.

While overseeing each production station, where INE personnel verify the quality assurance process, Filiberto Vázquez highlighted that indelible ink is a substance that reacts with the skin cell nucleus, causing a coloring that only fades over time as the skin naturally sheds.

He recalled that it has been 30 years since the creation of indelible ink, which has provided certainty to elections in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

The IPN scientist, who has spent over 50 years teaching in the classrooms and laboratories of the ENCB, expressed his pride that millions of citizens will carry a piece of the Politécnico on their thumb as they participate in the upcoming nationwide electoral process.