High Court Hears Petitions Over Real-Time Election Day Voter Reporting
The High Court of Justice heard petitions on Tuesday challenging the Central Elections Committee's decision to permit real-time voter turnout reporting by party representatives.
The High Court of Justice heard arguments on Tuesday regarding whether party representatives at polling stations can report in real time to their parties about a person's presence at the ballot box, whether they voted, and the circumstances surrounding it. The petition was filed earlier this week by Yoaz Hendel and the Reservists Party, alongside attorney Shahar Ben Meir, challenging a decision by the Central Elections Committee.
Legal Challenge and Committee Decision
The petitioners asked the court to issue an order nisi declaring the Central Elections Committee's plenary decision from Sunday void, arguing it was adopted without authority and violates the constitutional right to privacy. The controversy arose after the Central Elections Committee, where the Likud party holds a political majority, ruled against the position of the committee chairman, Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Solberg.
During a previous session, Solberg had prohibited real-time reporting from polling stations. Following a Supreme Court compromise proposal, the matter was re-examined by the committee, which ultimately overruled Solberg's stance. Attorney Ilan Bombach, representing Likud, defended the practice, arguing it helps coordinate transportation for voters. However, Supreme Court Justice Yael Willner challenged this assertion:
«Why is it not a violation of privacy? Targeting a specific goal violates what counsel argues; reaching out to a specific party damages equality, constitutes boosting a concrete party, and involves a political interest.»
Arguments from State and Petitioners
Avi Milkovsky, representing the State Attorney's Office on behalf of Justice Solberg, emphasized that the chairman's ruling was well-reasoned and established a significant violation of privacy that the committee effectively ignored. Attorney Idan Segar, representing Yoaz Hendel and the Reservists Party, stated that extracting such information from polling stations requires primary legislation due to election-day sensitivities. The High Court of Justice is expected to issue its ruling at a later date.
