The "Elector" controversy: Likud's new proposal for voter tracking
In response to the Central Elections Committee's ban on voter tracking apps, the Likud party has submitted an alternative proposal based on "privacy by design" principles.
As part of the struggle against the decision of the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, to ban the use of applications for transmitting data on voter identity in the upcoming elections for the 26th Knesset, the Likud party submitted today (Tuesday) an alternative technological proposal based on "privacy by design."
At the heart of the arguments submitted by Adv. Ilan Bombach, it is claimed that the unprecedented ban on reporting voter turnout in real-time, set just two weeks before the elections, constitutes a "change of the rules of the game while in motion" and severely harms the ability of parties to mobilize their supporters on election day.
As part of the compromise proposal, Likud offered an outline that distinguishes between types of polling stations: at special polling stations (such as in hospitals or double-envelope ballots), the party waives reporting entirely, while at regular polling stations, it is proposed to switch to reporting in fixed "time pulses." This means that data on voter identity will not be transferred to the party headquarters in real-time, but will be concentrated and sent in "batches" once every defined period, for example, every quarter of an hour.
This mechanism is intended to neutralize the ability to track voter movements and prevent real-time "surveillance" — an issue that stood at the heart of the Central Elections Committee Chairman's concerns regarding privacy protection. Likud explained that the solution allows verifying which supporters have not yet exercised their right, without infringing on individual privacy.
It was further argued that according to Section 39 of the Elections Law, the Ministry of Interior in any case transfers the voter registry, including names and addresses, to the parties, and that the only data added is the act of voting in a public and open place — an action that does not reveal the voter's political preference, as they vote secretly behind the curtain.
Within the compromise proposal, Likud distinguishes between "special polling stations," where it is proposed to completely ban the use of reporting applications or extracting data to the party headquarters, and "regular polling stations." For regular polling stations, the party requests to allow its representatives to transmit a technological indication of the realization of the right to vote, among other things by scanning Form 1000 or equivalent digital reporting.
The party offers two proportionate alternatives for this reporting: the first is a transition from immediate real-time reporting to reporting in fixed "time pulses," for example, once every quarter of an hour. In this way, the specific voting time of each citizen remains confidential, which neutralizes the ability to track the voter's exact movements and prevents the "surveillance element" that the Privacy Protection Law seeks to prevent.
The second alternative proposed by Likud is to continue data entry as has been done until today, but under a mechanism based on a "privacy by design" architecture. This mechanism ensures that raw information on voter identity will not be saved on servers, will not be transferred to third parties, and will be permanently deleted immediately upon the end of election day.
Likud explained that these solutions balance the need to protect citizen privacy with the democratic interest of parties to ensure their voters have exercised their right. The arguments were submitted against the backdrop of fierce opposition from left-wing parties, including Yesh Atid, Labor, and Blue and White, along with the Attorney General, who seek to prevent the reports entirely. Likud warned that blocking the ability to mobilize voters would harm the camp's realization of the right to vote and tilt the electoral balance of power at the last moment.
