Israel Faces Serious Glitch Weeks Before Elections
Weeks before the Knesset elections, Israel faced a serious glitch in the online systems of the Interior Ministry, preventing some citizens abroad from checking their registration in the voter registry. Many have already bought plane tickets to fly in and vote. MK Gilad Kariv called the situation serious negligence. The ministry confirmed a technical malfunction, attributing it to a system update, and reminded that the deadline for forming the lists is September 3.
Weeks before the Knesset elections, Israel faced a serious glitch in the online systems of the Interior Ministry. This glitch prevented some citizens living abroad from checking their registration in the voter registry. This caused particular concern among those who have already purchased plane tickets and plan to fly to Israel specifically to vote, fearing they might find their names missing from the voter lists. Difficulties arise when using the ministry's online services, including the WhatsApp bot: after entering personal data, the system does not provide the necessary information. Attempts to check status through relatives in Israel also do not always yield results. The glitch drew criticism from politicians: MK Gilad Kariv called the situation serious negligence and demanded that access to information be restored as soon as possible. The ministry confirmed a technical malfunction, attributing it to a system update, and stated that citizens can obtain data through a call center or a special online form. The ministry also emphasized that the deadline for forming voter lists for citizens living abroad is only September 3, so Israelis still have time to check their data. According to the law, citizens registered as Israeli residents must be included in the voter registry, but most Israelis abroad cannot vote through embassies or by mail and must arrive in the country in person.