Coalition Blocks Polling Stations in Non-Nursing Elderly Homes Despite Election Committee's Recommendation
The Israeli coalition government removed a proposal to set up polling stations in non-nursing elderly homes from the election law amendments, despite the Central Election Committee's request to approve it. The committee aimed to facilitate voting for seniors living in assisted living and elderly homes. The coalition's opposition, led by the Likud party, was revealed by ynet and is reportedly driven by concerns that the measure would electorally benefit the Israel Beiteinu party, as many residents in these homes are retired immigrants, a key demographic for Israel Beiteinu.
Likud MK Amit Halevi argued in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee that the proposal discriminated between elderly people based on their financial ability to afford such homes. Data presented indicated about 37,000 eligible voters reside in non-nursing elderly homes, nearly equivalent to one Knesset seat. Nursing elderly homes already have voting arrangements similar to hospitals. Opposition members criticized the process as rushed, noting that committee chairwoman Simcha Rothman held the vote minutes after the Knesset session began, allegedly violating procedural rules.
Rothman only allowed votes on agreed-upon issues, leaving other contentious topics like overseas servicewomen voting unaddressed. Approximately 200 servicewomen abroad were affected, compared to the 37,000 elderly voters. Another disputed proposal to enable voters, mainly students and yeshiva members, to update their voting address was also excluded.
MK Oded Forer of Israel Beiteinu condemned the coalition's move, stating the arrangement had proven effective and was intended to uphold seniors' democratic rights. He accused the coalition of politically motivated denial of voting rights, emphasizing that Holocaust survivors might be voting for the last time. Forer stressed that voting rights are not the coalition's property and should not be revoked due to electoral fears.
