United Torah Judaism Plans Workaround for Election Day Voter Tracking Ban

United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is preparing for election day with a strategy to circumvent a High Court of Justice (Beit Din HaGadol) ruling that prohibits election committee representatives from sharing real-time voter turnout data with party headquarters. This information has been crucial for the Haredi parties, particularly in tightly-knit communities, to ensure high voter participation. UTJ's alternative plan involves setting up a station outside the sterile zone of each polling station where individuals entering to vote will be registered. This data will then be transferred to the party without going through official channels. Additionally, Agudat Yisrael, a faction within UTJ, will establish dedicated tents near polling stations staffed by students. Voters will be asked to report to these tents after casting their ballots, using a special platform to confirm they have voted. Tzachi Barim, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, is spearheading this tracking initiative for Agudat Yisrael.

Meanwhile, Shas is also working to prevent voter drift to other right-wing parties. Senior Shas official Rabbi Moshe Maya, a member of the party's Council of Torah Sages, strongly criticized the Likud party, stating that "whoever votes for Likud or another party has no share in the next world." In a separate address in Jerusalem, former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef attacked the "change bloc" (referring to the opposition), warning of severe consequences if they gain power. it will be many times worse, we cannot describe what decrees there will be." Rabbi Yosef also reiterated his recent halachic ruling against voting for Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, comparing it to ascending the Temple Mount and questioning Ben-Gvir's actions regarding the treatment of Haredim by police and his lack of support for religious institutions.