Israeli Election Committee Bans Parties From Sharing Voter Information on Election Day

The chairman of Israel's Central Election Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, has prohibited party representatives at polling stations from reporting which voters have cast their ballots during election day. This ban specifically targets the use of mobile applications designed to update parties in real time about voter turnout, a practice previously used to encourage those who had not yet voted to do so.

Solberg ruled that sharing details such as the time of voting and the type of polling station (including special stations like those in hospitals or for voters with mobility issues) constitutes a violation of voter privacy under the Privacy Protection Law. He emphasized that election laws do not authorize party representatives to transmit such information for party activities, and without explicit legal authorization, this practice is forbidden.

The decision followed a petition filed by attorney Shahar Ben Meir and the Privacy Protection Clinic at Tel Aviv University, which argued that real-time updates on voter participation infringe on the secrecy and privacy of the vote. While the Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Religious Zionist parties opposed the change, claiming it does not violate the law, Solberg rejected their position.

Solberg clarified that the ruling reflects the current legal framework and does not comment on what future regulations should be. He called for a comprehensive review of the balance between election laws and privacy protections, especially given recent technological advances. Parties may still use voter registry information to contact voters, but this does not include data on whether the voter has actually voted.

The ruling marks a significant shift in election day procedures, aiming to strengthen voter privacy and limit party monitoring of individual voting behavior.