Israel's Election Commission Reverses Ban on Real-Time Voter Data for Parties

Israel's Central Elections Committee has reversed a recent ban, once again permitting political parties to collect and utilize real-time data on voter turnout during election days. This allows party-appointed representatives at polling stations to report which registered voters have already cast their ballots to their respective campaign headquarters. This practice, including the use of the 'Elector' application, has been employed in Israel for several election cycles by parties such as Likud and Haredi factions.

Last month, Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Solberg had prohibited the transmission of such data, citing concerns over voter privacy. However, following an appeal by the Likud party, the Supreme Court ruled that the matter should be decided by the full committee. The committee members subsequently overturned Solberg's decision, reinstating the parties' ability to gather this information.

Strict limitations have been imposed on the data collection. Parties are forbidden from sharing the information with any third parties, and all collected data must be destroyed after the elections conclude. The Supreme Court had previously acknowledged that this practice impacts voters' right to privacy. The committee's latest decision remains subject to potential further legal challenges.