Israel's Supreme Court Bans Election Day Voter Tracking App

Israel's High Court of Justice on Thursday struck down the use of the 'Elector' application, which the Likud party had supported, ruling that it cannot be used to track voters on election day. The court's decision overturned a prior ruling by the Central Elections Committee, which had approved the app's use earlier in the week by a vote of 19 to 11.

The practical implication of the ruling is that political parties will be barred from receiving real-time reports from polling stations about citizens who have not yet voted. This prevents parties from using such information to contact undecided voters and encourage them to cast their ballots.

Justice Vilner stated that the practice is illegal, citing a lack of explicit legal authorization for transferring such data and the significant infringement on voter privacy. The Movement for Quality of Government in Israel, which petitioned the court, welcomed the decision, asserting that information gathered at polling stations should not be used for citizen surveillance or pressure tactics. The organization emphasized that the ruling protects voter privacy and the right to free choice, pledging to continue safeguarding election integrity.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was associated with the Likud party's support for the app.