Israeli Election Committee Demands Full Disclosure of Poll Data to Prevent Manipulation

Deputy CEO of the Central Elections Committee, Attorney Din Livna, sent a letter to polling institutes and media outlets emphasizing the legal obligation to submit detailed poll data to the committee. This requirement is based on Section 16 of the Election Campaign Methods Law, which aims to ensure transparency and prevent misleading the public through selective questioning or data presentation.

Starting 90 days before the elections, pollsters must provide the committee with full data within 96 hours of publication, and during the final two weeks before the vote, within 24 hours. The data includes the survey questions, date of polling, commissioning party, methodology, sample size, and demographic details. Livna stressed the importance of strict adherence to these rules to avoid potentially decisive misinformation, citing past remarks by Judge Salim Joubran about the significant impact polls can have on marginal parties struggling to pass the electoral threshold.

To facilitate compliance, the Central Elections Committee has launched a secure website for submitting raw poll data. This move is intended to enhance public trust and ensure fair electoral processes by allowing scrutiny of the polls published in various media formats.