Election committee bans polling station workers from telling parties who has voted

Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, who heads the Central Elections Committee, banned polling station workers and party observers from sharing information about who has voted in the October 27 elections, citing privacy and election secrecy. The ban responds to a petition by anti-corruption activist Shahar Ben Meir. A senior Likud official called it a "targeted elimination of the right wing," and Likud is considering petitioning the High Court.

Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, who heads the Central Elections Committee, on Tuesday banned workers and party observers in the polls on October 27 from sharing information about who has voted. The ban, based on privacy and election secrecy concerns, was in response to a petition by anti-corruption activist Shahar Ben Meir against parties' use of apps to track voter turnout. A senior Likud official told Channel 13 news that the ban was a "targeted elimination of the right wing," as Likud and other factions have used dedicated apps to see which of their supporters voted. Likud and its coalition partners are now considering petitioning the High Court of Justice against the ruling. The petition was opposed by Likud and the allied Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Religious Zionism parties, while other factions did not weigh in. Sohlberg said noting voters' identities "constitutes a violation of privacy and is not permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Protection Law." The Central Elections Committee is an independent state body chaired by a Supreme Court justice. Likud has a history of questioning the integrity of the committee, and some legal experts have expressed concern that Likud and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be laying groundwork to dispute results or pressure the body.