Civic Groups Mobilize Thousands to Oversee Election Integrity

On election day, tens of thousands of volunteers across Israel participated in civilian operations aimed at ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. These "election command centers" (hamalim) were established by various grassroots organizations, drawing on infrastructure built during previous protest movements. Volunteers, like Rotem, who lost her nephew Omri in Gaza in December 2023, felt compelled to contribute, seeing the elections as a crucial moment.

Rotem described her involvement as a personal mission, driven by the loss of her nephew and the desire for the day to pass smoothly. After undergoing background checks and training, she served as a dispatcher (sambatzit) in a central command center. She emphasized that her activism is focused on these efforts, stating, "I am willing to do anything to ensure this day passes as it should."

The civilian election command centers acted as a significant, cross-party operation to document and gather information, providing public oversight on election day. The central command center for the "Election Command Center" organization, for example, was bustling with dozens of volunteers fielding reports of issues such as long queues, campaign violations, and inaccessible polling stations. These reports were then channeled to relevant authorities, including retired police officers, a special intelligence desk combating disinformation, and a legal desk.

Eyal Naveh, a prominent figure in the anti-government protest movement and associated with "Brothers in Arms," stated that these centers serve to "assist authorities, not replace them." He described the volunteers as "extra eyes" providing the public with a sense of security and civic responsibility. Many volunteers are individuals who previously participated in protests against the "judicial overhaul."

Michal Binish, who heads operations alongside Naveh and others like Ran Har Nabo from "Yalla Hope," noted the high level of public awareness, leading to more detailed reporting than in past elections. The central command center featured a large screen displaying real-time data on open incidents, volunteer numbers, and incoming reports. These reports, ranging from "long queue" to "delayed opening," were managed by team leaders overseeing thousands of field activists who relayed information to the appropriate bodies.

In addition to "Election Command Center," other organizations like "Election Watch," a more established group, deployed 18,000 observers to polling stations. These observers monitor proceedings inside the stations and can alert external command centers to any irregularities. Another civilian initiative, operating separately but with similar goals, focused on coordinating community-based efforts across the country, addressing issues like polling stations that failed to open and illegal campaigning. Volunteers expressed a strong desire to be involved, with Erez, an architect and volunteer, stating, "People are exploding and want to act, so we have more volunteers than we need, it's exciting."