Election Committee Reverses Chair's Ban on Vote Tracking Apps

The Central Elections Committee has reversed a decision by its chairman, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, allowing political parties to use dedicated applications, including the "Elector" app, to monitor and transmit real-time voting data from polling stations on election day. The committee's reversal came after the High Court of Justice returned the decision-making authority to the committee following a petition filed by the Likud party.

A panel of High Court justices, including Yael Willner, Alex Stein, and Khaled Kabub, proposed a compromise that was accepted by both sides. Justice Willner stated during the hearing that the proposed solution appeared to be the best option under the circumstances, preferring it to a definitive ruling and emphasizing the need for consensus. The court did not take a stance on the matter itself.

Likud representative on the Elections Committee, MK Amit Halevy, praised the decision, stating that encouraging citizens to vote and participate is the essence of democracy. He criticized Justice Sohlberg's initial attempt to prevent parties from using these apps after the election campaign had already begun, calling it unreasonable and damaging to public trust in the committee. Halevy expressed satisfaction that the decision was overturned by a large majority and should remain so.