Election Committee Rules on Invalid Ballots to Count More Votes
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israel's Central Elections Committee, led by Justice Noam Sohlberg, decided Tuesday to count ballots with minor defects, following numerous complaints of tampering. The new rule allows ballots with smudges or printing errors to be counted if the intended party is clear. This decision came after several parties, including Zehut, Yishai!, and Religious Zionism, reported issues with missing or defaced ballots. The committee stated it has no evidence of systematic tampering but is addressing individual reports.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Central Elections Committee will count ballots with minor defects if the intended party is clear.
- The decision follows numerous complaints of ballot tampering across Israel.
- Justice Noam Sohlberg heads the Central Elections Committee.
- Several parties reported issues including missing, defaced, or torn ballots.
- The committee stated there is no indication of systematic ballot tampering.
The Central Elections Committee, headed by Justice Noam Sohlberg, issued a last-minute decision Tuesday to allow more ballots to be counted, even if they have minor defects. This change comes after numerous complaints of ballot tampering across Israel.
Under the new directive, ballots with small holes, smudges, or minor printing errors will not be automatically disqualified. They can be counted as long as the voter's intended party is clear. The committee emphasized that the rule is to include every voter's voice unless a ballot is irredeemably spoiled.
This decision followed warnings from several party leaders about potential ballot sabotage. Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut party, claimed that ballots for the joint list with Religious Zionism were being tampered with, citing missing, defaced, or torn ballots. He advised voters to check ballot integrity and use blank paper if necessary.
Other parties, including Yishai! led by Gadi Eisenkot, the Reservists and Economic party led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelicha, Am Israel led by Ofer Vinter, Religious Zionism, and Ra'am, also reported issues such as missing, marked, torn, or non-conforming ballots. The Civil Election Watch reported dozens of cases of missing ballots for the Haredi Public party in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and Modi'in Illit.
Despite the widespread complaints, the Elections Committee stated earlier that it had no indication of systematic tampering and was addressing each report individually. The new ruling does not permit voters to alter ballots themselves but instructs polling station committees to carefully examine defects and prevent unnecessary disqualification of votes, aiming to preserve both ballot secrecy and the counting of valid votes.
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