Israel's Election Commission Warns Against Ballot Markings

The Central Elections Committee of Israel has issued a warning to voters regarding the proper way to fill out ballots for the Knesset elections. Contrary to some social media claims, voters are prohibited from making any additional marks, signatures, drawings, or notes on printed ballots, as doing so could invalidate their vote. If a printed ballot for a specific list is unavailable at a polling station, voters can request a blank white ballot. On this blank ballot, voters are permitted to write the Hebrew letters designating the desired list, or the letters along with the list's name, using a blue pen. The writing must be in Hebrew, Arabic, or both. A blank ballot or one with only the list's name, but without the corresponding letters, will be considered invalid. The committee also reminded voters not to leave personal marks on the ballot or the inner envelope, and to place only one ballot inside the envelope. Submitting two or three identical ballots for the same list will be counted as one vote, but four or more identical ballots, or ballots from different lists, will render the vote invalid. Voters experiencing issues with a damaged ballot or the absence of a required list should contact election officials. The article also notes that over 95% of polling stations had opened, former Chief Rabbi Isaac Yosef voted in Rishon LeZion, Aryeh Deri voted in Jerusalem and set a condition for coalition formation, families of October 7 victims urged Israelis to vote in their memory, 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, and the cyber police are operating 24/7 due to a wave of deepfakes. Prime Minister Netanyahu gave an exclusive interview the day before the elections.