How People With Disabilities Can Vote in Israeli Elections
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
The Central Elections Committee website is missing voting information in Russian and other immigrant languages for the second consecutive election. "Vesti" is translating essential voting rules for Russian speakers, focusing on accessibility for people with limited mobility. These individuals can vote at special accessible polling stations, but companions must vote at their registered location. Assistance inside the voting booth is restricted to physical inability, not language barriers or cognitive issues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The CEC website lacks voting information in Russian and other immigrant languages for the second election.
- "Vesti" is translating voting rules for Russian speakers, focusing on accessibility.
- People with limited mobility can vote at special accessible polling stations.
- Companions without mobility issues must vote at their registered polling station.
- Assistance inside the voting booth is limited to physical inability, not language or cognitive issues.
For the second election in a row, the Central Elections Committee (CEC) website lacks information in languages for immigrants, including Russian, Amharic, and French. "Vesti" previously criticized this lack of accessibility in 2022 and published an article on the topic for Ynet, but the CEC has again ignored language accessibility for the current elections. "Vesti" has taken the initiative to translate key questions and answers from the CEC website to inform Russian-speaking voters about voting rules, particularly for those with limited mobility or who do not speak Hebrew.
Individuals with limited mobility have options beyond their regular polling stations. They can vote at special "accessible" polling stations (kalpiyot negishot). Information on the nearest accessible station can be found on the CEC website. However, a companion voter who is not themselves mobility-impaired cannot vote at these special stations; they must vote at their registered polling place.
Any person can accompany a voter to the polling station. Assistance inside the voting booth is permitted only if the voter is physically unable to perform the task themselves, such as for the blind or those with amputated limbs, and only with the voter's consent. Not knowing Hebrew or having cognitive impairments are not considered physical limitations that allow for assistance inside the voting booth.
Restrictions apply to companions: they cannot be staff of an institution where the voter resides, and one companion can assist a maximum of two voters. In cases of doubt regarding the right to accompaniment or adherence to conditions, the polling station's election commission secretary makes the final decision.
