Likud's Request Rejected - and the Compromise: For the First Time, Voter Turnout Rates Will Be Published at Every Polling Station During Election Day

The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, rejected Likud's request to reconsider the decision prohibiting party representatives from transmitting real-time information about voter identities. As a compromise, the committee will publish voter turnout rates at each regular polling station at least four times on election day, as aggregate data only, to allow lists to encourage voters without harming privacy.

The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, today (Sunday) rejected Likud's request to reconsider his decision prohibiting party representatives at polling stations from transmitting real-time information about voter identities to the parties. In his decision, Sohlberg clarified that the decision does not change election laws but clarifies the existing law and the applicability of a section in the Privacy Protection Law. He noted that in recent years doubts have been raised about the legality of the practice, so factions should have prepared in advance, including through legislation. Meanwhile, Sohlberg asked the factions to propose ways to encourage voting while protecting voter privacy. As a compromise, he ruled that on election day the committee will publish voter turnout rates at each regular polling station at least four times, as aggregate data only, available equally to all lists. These data will not allow identifying whether a specific person voted, thus balancing the need to encourage voters with maintaining privacy and the purity of the process.

Likud's Request Rejected - and the Compromise: For the First Time, Voter Turnout Rates Will Be Published at Every Polling Station During Election Day