Elderly Voters Challenge Decision to Remove Nursing Home Ballot Boxes in Supreme Court

Ahead of the 2026 Knesset elections, elderly citizens have petitioned Israel's Supreme Court against the decision not to place ballot boxes in nursing homes. The petitioners argue that removing these accessible voting stations infringes on their voting rights and disrupts established procedures used in the previous two elections. They emphasize that the special ballot boxes allowed nursing home residents to vote at their actual place of residence, even if their official address remained elsewhere.

The arrangement was initially introduced as a temporary measure before the 24th Knesset elections and was included in early drafts for the 26th Knesset election law. The petitioners request that the state maintain this accessible voting mechanism, warning against changing election rules during the campaign without providing alternative solutions.

In response, the government and the Central Elections Committee stated that they are considering various alternatives for ballot box locations, including placing them near nursing homes where feasible and with local consent. However, no final decision has been made yet.

The Knesset Constitution Committee rejected the petitioners' claims, stating that the court should dismiss the petitions as the requested remedy is not appropriate. The committee noted that a permanent law mandating ballot boxes in nursing homes was considered but ultimately not adopted for various reasons. They also highlighted that election law changes close to elections have historically been passed with broad consensus, which is currently lacking regarding ballot boxes in nursing homes. The committee held extensive discussions and a dedicated vote before deciding not to include this provision in the election law proposal.