Likud Challenges Election Committee Chair's Ban on Reporting Voter Participation by Poll Observers

The Likud party has submitted a request for reconsideration of a decision by Noam Solberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, which prohibits party-appointed poll observers from reporting on voters who have not yet cast their ballots. Likud criticized Solberg's ruling as effectively changing the rules mid-election and urged him to reverse or postpone the decision so it does not apply to the upcoming elections.

Solberg's ruling, issued the previous evening, argued that sharing information about whether and when someone voted, including the polling station type, violates privacy laws under the Privacy Protection Act. Earlier that week, Solberg expressed concern to the State Attorney Galit Baharav-Miara about attempts to undermine the Elections Committee's credibility, warning that harsh rhetoric could create public distrust in election results despite no real threat of vote theft.

In related news, the Likud court ruled that ministers and Knesset members cannot run in Likud primaries outside their districts, and the party blocked a Haaretz advertising campaign deemed election propaganda.