Activist Urges Haredim to Add Religious Phrase to Ballots, Potentially Invalidating Votes

A prominent left-wing activist named Donny Makhlouf has sparked widespread discussion on social media platform X by urging the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) public to add the Hebrew phrase "בס"ד" (B'ezrat Hashem, meaning 'with God's help') to the top corner of their ballots. Makhlouf posted an image of a ballot with the inscription, suggesting that doing so would cause the vote to be disqualified, thereby challenging secular opposition.

Makhlouf stated in his post, "It is an outrage that in the Land of the Jews, they did not print 'בס"ד' on the ballots." He further recommended, "Therefore, I advise everyone to bring a pen to the polling station and add 'בס"ד' to the top corner of the ballot. This will both strengthen your vote and poke a finger in the eye of all the secularists."

The post gained significant traction, being shared by notable Israeli left-wing figures, including Gonen Ben Yitzhak, founder of the Crime Minister movement and a leader of anti-government protests, and Naor Narkis, an activist for the Democrats party.

However, the Central Elections Committee has clarified that any handwritten additions to a ballot can lead to its disqualification. According to the committee's directives, as previously determined in a ruling concerning the Blue and White party, "If during the vote count, ballots of the list are found, printed or handwritten, they will be considered invalid ballots."

Notably, Gonen Ben Yitzhak, who shared the post, is an attorney who previously filed criminal complaints against right-wing activists. A Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court recently dismissed criminal complaints he filed against right-wing activist Mordechai David, with the judge criticizing the complainants' conduct during the proceedings. The Central Elections Committee reiterated that only printed ballots without any handwritten marks are considered valid, and any symbol, writing, or addition could invalidate the vote.