Israeli Supreme Court Weighs Voter Tracking App Use

Israel's Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Wednesday regarding the Central Elections Committee's decision to permit the use of voter tracking applications, such as 'Elector,' by political parties on election day. These apps allow parties to collect and update real-time information on voters, raising significant privacy concerns.

The Central Elections Committee's decision, made by a majority vote of the ruling coalition's representatives, overturned an earlier prohibition issued by the committee's chairman and Supreme Court Deputy President, Noam Sohlberg. Sohlberg had banned the apps last month, citing violations of voter privacy.

The court session will be presided over by Justices Yael Willner, Alex Stein, and Khaled Kebub, and is scheduled for a live broadcast. Sohlberg's initial ruling was based on a petition by attorney Shahar Ben Meir, who argued that transmitting voting process details, including timing and polling station type, infringes on privacy and is not permitted under privacy protection laws. Sohlberg also emphasized that voter information cannot be shared without consent and warned of potential civil and criminal penalties for app users.

The Likud party, represented by attorney Ilan Bombach, has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn Sohlberg's ban. Likud argues that the use of these apps is a "long-standing and deeply rooted practice" in Israeli election management, describing it as a "legal practice that has gained momentum over generations and decades." They are seeking the cancellation of the prohibition.

During a court hearing last week, the justices appeared to understand Sohlberg's privacy concerns but also considered returning the matter to the Elections Committee, as Likud contended that Sohlberg lacked the authority to make the decision unilaterally.

These applications enable poll workers and party observers to instantly record voters' names and transmit this data in real-time. Parties use this information to identify non-voters and encourage them to participate. The apps also facilitate documenting contact with potential voters and sending targeted messages to boost turnout. The system relies on processing large amounts of personal data, often managed by external companies for the parties. The Likud, Shas, and United Torah Judaism parties have been prominent users of these apps, making the ban a contentious issue amid concerns about data collection and its influence on voter behavior.