Elderly voters may have been misled before the elections

An 88-year-old Israeli resident nearly refrained from voting due to an inaccessible polling station on the second floor and incorrect information from a call center. Her daughter requested a transfer to an accessible station, but the operator stated it was impossible without a disability sign. It turned out that CEC rules do not require such a sign—it is enough to sign a declaration of limited mobility.

An 88-year-old Israeli woman, mother of Esti Tshuva, has difficulty moving after a severe heart attack. For the upcoming elections on October 27, she was assigned to a polling station on the second floor of a school. Her daughter called the CEC information center at 073-2458358 to request a transfer to an accessible station, at least on the first floor of the same school. The operator replied that without an official disability sign this was impossible and refused to connect her to a supervisor. Tshuva also unsuccessfully tried to reach the Interior Ministry. Her mother had already decided not to vote. However, as mako found out, the call center's information does not match CEC rules: voting at a special accessible station does not require a disability sign, prior application, or permission. It is enough to sign a declaration of limited mobility at the station. This is intended for the elderly, those recovering from surgeries, and temporarily incapacitated individuals. The article also provides rules for evacuees and instructions for finding accessible stations via the CEC digital map.

Elderly voters may have been misled before the elections