How will voting data be broken down by Hasidic sect? Haredim oppose Solberg's ban

Judge Noam Solberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, banned parties from tracking and reporting voting data at polling stations, citing privacy concerns. The Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, were furious, with Agudat Yisrael accusing him of wanting to 'steal the elections.' Likud, which uses the Elector app, also criticized the decision, and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi vowed to bypass it. The coalition is considering a High Court petition or legislation during the recess.

Judge Noam Solberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, on Tuesday evening banned party representatives from using apps to track and report voting data at polling stations during Election Day. The decision came in response to a petition by attorney Shahar Ben Meir, joined by the Privacy Protection Clinic at Tel Aviv University, ruling that transmitting information about whether a person voted, the time, and the type of polling station constitutes a privacy violation and is prohibited under the Privacy Protection Law. The Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, were furious. Sources in Agudat Yisrael said: 'It is no coincidence that the chairman chose this disconnected decision that directly harms the Haredi parties; our feeling is that there is a desire to steal the elections.' Shas responded: 'When they oppress him, so shall he multiply and break out.' The article describes the Haredi method of tracking voters, which includes central call centers, representatives with kosher phones reporting after each voter, and data breakdown by sect, neighborhood, and city. Likud, which uses the Elector app, also criticized the decision. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attacked: 'It seems Judge Solberg thinks the Elections Committee is another hall of the High Court... We will not allow this absurd decision to be implemented in the field.' The coalition is considering ways to overcome the decision, including a High Court petition or legislation during the recess, though legal sources said legislation would only be possible under certain conditions.