Likud Demands Reversal of New Ban on Real-Time Polling Station Reports After Investing 1.8 Million Shekels

The Likud party has petitioned Judge Noam Solberg to reconsider his recent ruling that prohibits real-time reporting from polling stations during elections. The party argues that the decision was made after the official start of the election campaign period, specifically after July 18, 2026, when the Knesset entered its election recess. Likud claims this constitutes a significant mid-game change to election rules, undermining the legal certainty on which parties relied.

Likud highlights that it has already invested 1.8 million shekels in a contract with the data company Elector, dedicating substantial resources to data refinement and security checks based on the previously accepted legal framework. The party requests that the ban either be overturned or postponed to apply only in future election cycles, citing Judge Solberg's own principle that "stable truth is preferable."

Judge Solberg's ruling, issued last Tuesday, forbids party representatives at polling stations from reporting in real time which voters have cast ballots. This practice had been standard for years, enabling parties to use apps like Elector to monitor turnout and mobilize targeted voter outreach through calls, texts, and door-to-door efforts. The Likud petition underscores the disruption caused by the sudden rule change during an ongoing election campaign.

The case highlights tensions between election oversight and party campaign strategies in Israel's 2026 elections, with the Likud seeking to maintain its technological edge and operational continuity amid evolving legal constraints.