Picoazá: Where Even Foot Powder Can Aspire to Electoral Greatness
The community of Picoazá, Ecuador apparently needs some fresh candidates for political office. During an election for city council, voters were unsatisfied with the candidates listed on the ballot. They wrote in their choice, and that write-in candidate was elected. Who was this popular grassroots politician? The newly-elected council member wasn’t a person; it was a foot powder.
The incident occurred in 1967. Capitalizing on the upcoming election, Pulvapies, a company that produced foot powder, ran a series of election-themed advertisements. Some of the slogans used in the ads included, “Vote for any candidate, but if you want well-being and hygiene, vote for Pulvapies”, and “For Mayor: Honorable Pulvapies.” In addition to the snappy advertisements, the company distributed flyers that resembled the ballots for the upcoming election.
When the final votes were tabulated, stunned election officials announced the outcome. Pulvapies had been elected to the position of municipal councilman. An estimated 10,000 ballot-like advertisements had been submitted as the official votes of citizens.
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