Israel's Supreme Court Reviews Voter Tracking by Political Parties

The Supreme Court of Israel has begun hearings on petitions challenging the Central Elections Committee's decision to permit political parties to track voters on election day. The practice allows parties to monitor in real-time who has cast their ballot and who has not yet arrived at polling stations. The Central Elections Committee approved this measure on Sunday with a 19-11 vote.

Activist Shahar Ben Meir filed a complaint with the court, arguing that the use of such data infringes upon citizens' right to privacy. Political parties have employed this method since 2019, receiving information from poll watchers to identify potential supporters who have not voted. They then contact these individuals via phone or message to encourage them to vote.

Previously, Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Solberg had prohibited this practice, deeming it a violation of privacy laws. The Likud party appealed Solberg's decision, leading to the committee being instructed to determine the data usage policy itself. On Sunday, the committee overturned Solberg's ban, reinstating permission for parties to track voter turnout. The Supreme Court will now assess the legality of this decision.