So why does Israel still avoid digital or electronic voting?

Israel continues to use paper ballots and manual counting in the 2026 elections, despite the digital age. The article explains the difference between remote voting and computerized voting at polling stations, and quotes former Central Elections Committee Director General Orly Ades, who defines the physical ballot as "institutional resilience."

In an era where artificial intelligence manages the economy, Israel continues to elect its leadership using paper ballots and manual counting. The article explains why the system has not transitioned to digitization, distinguishing between remote voting via an app and computerized voting at polling stations (EVM). Information security experts and election officials view the simple ballot as a protective wall for democracy. The article quotes former Central Elections Committee Director General Orly Ades, who defines the approach as "institutional resilience." Germany and the Netherlands returned to paper after trying electronic machines. Estonia is the only country that has adopted full online voting, but experts point to structural weaknesses. In the age of AI, the physical ballot ensures that the democratic mechanism remains immune to disruption.