Afghanistan recently had their national election. And like
India, they use symbols on their ballots to help non-literate
people recognize their candidate (as well as portraits). There's a
great
photograph of the ballot in the Big Picture.
The symbols
are qualitatively different than the Indian ballot. There's an odd use
of multiples: two or three objects to fill the square. And they seem
more abstract, no hammer and sickle or the like. According to
PRI candidates were given a choice of three random symbols,
although some candidates were able to pick things that seem
representative. As an American it's hard not to see the airplanes as
provocative.
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