Israel's Supreme Court Bars Real-Time Voter Data Sharing by Parties

Israel's High Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that party representatives at polling stations cannot transmit real-time information about voters to their respective parties. The decision, made by a three-judge panel including Justices Yael Vilner, Alex Stein, and Khaled Kabub, overturned a previous decision by the Central Elections Committee.

In the main opinion, Justice Vilner stated that the practice of transmitting voter data is illegal due to a lack of statutory authorization and a violation of the right to privacy, specifically citing the prohibition in Section 2(9) of the Privacy Protection Law. The court emphasized that the Central Elections Committee lacks the legal authority to permit such practices without explicit legislative backing.

The ruling effectively cancels the committee's approval for the use of the "Elector" software, which allowed party representatives to report on voter turnout to encourage their supporters to vote. The Likud party, which had appealed the initial prohibition, argued that this change in rules during the election process was unfair.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin criticized the ruling, accusing the justices of attempting to thwart reform efforts and manipulate election outcomes. He claimed the court was changing the rules mid-game and undermining election integrity. The Religious Zionist Party echoed this sentiment, asserting the decision unfairly disadvantages right-wing parties and calling for judicial reform.

The Central Elections Committee had initially banned party observers from reporting voter identities, but later approved the use of the "Elector" software after an appeal by the Likud party. The court's final decision prohibits party representatives from informing their parties about whether an individual has voted or not, absent explicit legal authorization.