Israeli Central Elections Committee Rejects Request to Reveal Voter Identities, Will Publish Aggregate Turnout Data

Noam Solberg, chairman of Israel's Central Elections Committee, rejected a petition to reconsider his decision banning party representatives at polling stations from transmitting real-time information about voter identities to their parties. Solberg clarified that his ruling does not change election laws near voting day but rather affirms existing privacy protections under the Privacy Protection Law. He noted that in recent years, doubts have been raised about the legality of sharing voter identity information, and political parties should have prepared for the possibility that this practice would be prohibited, including by promoting legislation to regulate it.

Solberg also invited Knesset factions and other stakeholders involved in the process to propose practical methods to encourage voter turnout while respecting voter privacy and the principles outlined in his decision. After reviewing submitted proposals, the Central Elections Committee decided it will publish voter turnout rates at each regular polling station at least four times on election day. This aggregated data will be equally accessible to all parties, enabling them to mobilize voters without revealing individual voter identities.

The committee emphasized that these aggregate statistics do not allow identification of any specific voter, balancing the need for parties to encourage voting with the obligation to protect Israeli citizens' privacy and maintain election integrity.