Israeli Election Committee Bans Reporting Voter Attendance via Party Apps
On August 5, 2026, Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, chair of Israel's Central Election Committee, ruled that party representatives at polling stations are prohibited from reporting who has voted using dedicated mobile applications. This decision aims to protect voter privacy and uphold the integrity of the election process.
The Central Election Committee, led by Sohlberg, appoints members to local polling committees responsible for managing voting and counting ballots. Each polling committee includes at least three political party representatives alongside a non-partisan polling secretary. This mixed composition ensures mutual oversight to prevent electoral fraud and maintain transparency.
Historically, party representatives and observers at polling stations have used apps such as Elector and Victory to report voter turnout in real time to their parties. This practice allowed parties to identify potential supporters who had not yet voted and to encourage them to participate. However, Sohlberg emphasized that voting information is private under Israel's privacy protection laws, and using it to influence voters violates legal boundaries.
Sohlberg clarified that while committee members must monitor the voting process to ensure legality, they must not use voter data for political campaigning or share it with parties. Any transmission of voter attendance information, regardless of method, is now considered illegal.
The ruling addresses concerns about privacy and the misuse of voter data during elections, reinforcing the principle that election oversight should be impartial and respect individual rights. The decision affects all political parties and candidates using these apps in the upcoming elections.
Summary: Israel's Central Election Committee chair Justice Noam Sohlberg banned party representatives from reporting voter attendance via apps at polling stations, citing privacy laws and election integrity. The ruling prohibits sharing voter turnout data with parties to prevent misuse during elections.
