Israeli Startup Aims to Boost Voter Turnout Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
An Israeli initiative called "Kol Kol" is using over 25,000 volunteers and a PolaAI technology system to boost voter turnout for the upcoming elections. The group analyzes past voting data and social media to identify and encourage potential opposition voters. Organizers claim their efforts are vital to counter perceived lower turnout among anti-Netanyahu voters and have reported facing a cyberattack and alleged silencing attempts.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli initiative "Kol Kol" mobilizes 25,000+ volunteers to boost voter turnout before elections.
- The group uses PolaAI technology to analyze voting patterns and social media discourse.
- Organizers claim over a million anti-Netanyahu voters did not participate in the last election.
- The initiative focuses on neighborhoods that previously supported the opposition bloc.
- The project has reportedly faced a cyberattack and alleged silencing attempts.
- PolaAI's technology has been used in political campaigns in the United States.
With elections just two days away, an Israeli initiative called "Kol Kol" (Every Voice) is mobilizing over 25,000 volunteers and employing a technological system to analyze voting patterns and encourage participation. The organizers claim their efforts are crucial, especially after analyzing the previous Knesset elections where they estimate over a million voters who opposed Prime Minister Netanyahu did not vote. They assert that voter turnout in areas supporting the current government was significantly higher (82%) compared to areas supporting the opposition (73%).
The "Kol Kol" initiative, which is not affiliated with any specific party, aims to increase overall voter turnout by building a grassroots network of volunteers, both Jewish and Arab. These volunteers, coordinated by approximately 2,000 cluster managers across the country, contact friends, neighbors, and family to encourage them to vote. The effort is concentrated in neighborhoods that accounted for 81% of the opposition's votes in the last election. The project is publicly funded through donations and overseen by the State Comptroller.
The technological backbone of the operation is provided by PolaAI, an Israeli-American startup operating from Israel and Silicon Valley. PolaAI's system analyzes public discourse on social media alongside past election results at the polling station level. It aims to identify potential supporters of political camps and predict their likelihood of voting by examining public posts, identifying user interests, and matching findings to voter registries. This data helps in planning volunteer activities and targeting specific areas for outreach.
Organizers claim their system has been used in past political campaigns in the US, including congressional races and a New York City Council race, with some candidates reportedly benefiting from the technology. However, the use of such data raises privacy concerns and questions about the accuracy of political classifications. The "Kol Kol" organizers stated they have faced recent challenges, including a 26-hour cyberattack that disrupted their operations and alleged silencing attempts by Channel 14.
Despite these setbacks, the founders expressed determination, stating, "They will not break us and will not scare us. The days of change are closer than ever." They criticize the government's performance in security, governance, and public services, believing that increasing turnout among anti-Netanyahu voters could lead to political change. In the final two days before the elections, the focus will be on expanding the volunteer network and contacting potential voters.
Mentioned
