Political Parties Using Fake Fingers to Vote in Lok Sabha Elections: Fact Check

Story:

Political parties using fake plastic fingers to vote many times in upcoming Lok Sabha elections of India.

Other Versions

1.Beware!

Fake fingers being made for casting votes

2. New trick for fake voting in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, India

Fact Check:

A ‘shocking’ message in wide circulation on social media purports to show Political Parties in India are Using Fake Fingers to Vote in Lok Sabha Elections. Allegedly, the new trick of multiple voting with fake fingers shall counter the finger dye used during polls, which prevents voters from re-voting. As explained below, the claim is a hoax with some valid information.

Fake Fingers to Vote in Lok Sabha Elections?

Firstly, we verified, the pictures of fake prosthetic fingers accompanying the messages are not related to India. They are in fact custom made silicone prosthetic fingers for Japan Mafia members of ‘Yakuza‘. The fake fingers were used to mask their amputation ritual Yubitsume for serious offenses. ABC News website abcnews.go.com reported about it back in June 2013.

The claim in question about using fake prosthetic fingers for multiple voting appeared in India two years ago in February 2017 also. Although the images of prosthetic fingers are not related to fake voting in Lok Sabha elections in India, India Today website indiatoday.in published a related investigative report in February 2017.

Accordingly, India Today unearthed a ring of prosthetic suppliers selling silicone fingers to political parties trying to rig Uttar Pradesh elections. It said political leaders are ordering them in bulk for their teams to cast multiple fake votes. The report also mentions a person claiming some leaders are procuring the prosthetic fingers to trick poll officials into allowing them in election booths for multiple voting.

Multiple Voting Using Fake Fingers Possible in India?

As of this writing, there’s no such reported case in India where a person was wearing fake fingers while voting. People may think it is possible to use fake fingers and surpass the finger dye check used during polls. However, the prior-polling process involves other checks like showing and verifying photo identity proof. Once voted, a person’s name would also be struck off in the electoral poll list. So, the chances of such multiple voting using fake fingers are less.

Hoax or Fact:

Hoax with some valid information.