Israeli Committee Approves Special Voting Rules for Knesset 26 Amid Security Concerns
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved in a preliminary reading the special voting arrangements law for the 26th Knesset elections, led by committee chair Simcha Rothman. The law aims to ensure proper election conduct despite ongoing security challenges, including provisions for displaced voters to cast ballots via designated polling stations or accessible locations using double envelopes. Public bodies will provide only statistical data on displaced populations to the Central Elections Committee for polling station placement, with all data deleted post-election.
Rothman emphasized the need for consensus, removing several contentious clauses such as address changes before elections, polling stations in nursing homes, voting by female service members, and party membership fees for relatives. The law also grants the Elections Committee chair authority, in consultation with the IDF, to impose special measures to maintain public security during the elections. Additionally, the chair of the Central Elections Committee can set rules for polling locations in coordination with the IDF Chief of Staff.
A significant new provision mandates clear labeling of election propaganda created or altered by artificial intelligence, termed "deepfakes," to prevent misinformation. Deputy CEO of the Central Elections Committee, Attorney Din Livneh, highlighted the ease of creating misleading digital content and its potential to influence voters.
The law allows the Elections Committee to contract government-approved suppliers without tender under emergency conditions, with contracts over 2.5 million shekels requiring special approval. Committees may hold remote video meetings, except for candidate disqualification discussions, which must be in person.
Permanent election law amendments include expanding ballot mark options to three letters, advancing candidate list submission deadlines by three days, and empowering the Elections Committee chair to disqualify technically unfit candidates. Transparency requirements for election propaganda will extend beyond election periods for certain actors.
The removed clauses included alternative address notifications for voters, permanent authorization for polling stations in nursing homes, expanded overseas voting for national service participants, and party membership fee payments for relatives. The bill will proceed to further committee discussions before second and third readings.
