Dili, 15 February 2018: Minister of State Administration Dr. Valentim Ximenes and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director Mr. Claudio Providas signed an agreement today for the procurement of indelible ink for the early parliamentary elections to be held in Timor-Leste on 12 May 2018. The date for the early parliamentary elections was recently announced by the President of the Republic through a presidential decree. 

UNDP will procure 4,000 bottles of indelible ink with 25% silver nitrate and hand these over to the Technical Secretariat of Electoral Administration (STAE) responsible for management and administration of elections in Timor-Leste.

The indelible ink is a sensitive material used in elections as it is an effective security feature which helps to prevent electoral fraud such as multiple voting, as it is not possible for a voter to remove it quickly. In Timor-Leste, each voter applies the ink on their index finger while exiting the polling station after casting their ballot.

Dr. Valentim Ximenes advised that he is highly convinced that the process will be transparent and that the quality of the ink will be of the pre-requisite standard. Mr. Claudio Providas thanked the government for entrusting UNDP during such an important period and assured that UNDP will fulfill the expectations of the Government. 

UNDP has been procuring indelible ink for elections in Timor-Leste since 1999, most recently procuring 9,000 bottles for the 2017 national elections.