Israeli Central Elections Committee Chair Rejects Likud Request to Reveal Voter Identities

Noam Solberg, Chair of Israel's Central Elections Committee, has rejected the Likud party's request to reconsider the ban on party representatives reporting voter identities in real time at polling stations. Solberg emphasized that his decision reflects existing law and does not constitute a last-minute change to election rules. He cited privacy protections under the Privacy Protection Law as the basis for maintaining voter anonymity.

Despite rejecting Likud's appeal, Solberg introduced a new mechanism for the upcoming elections: the committee will publish voter turnout rates at each regular polling station at least four times on election day. This data will be equally accessible to all parties, enabling them to identify areas with low turnout and encourage voter participation without compromising individual voter privacy.

Solberg noted that previous heads of the elections committee had already questioned the legality of sharing voter identity information. He urged Knesset factions and other stakeholders to propose ways to boost voter turnout while respecting privacy. Likud had argued that the ban constituted a "change of the rules during the game," harming parties' ability to mobilize supporters.

The original ruling prohibits party representatives and observers from transmitting information about who has voted via party apps or other means. Solberg clarified that the information available to party representatives is intended solely to monitor election integrity, not for political campaigning. The new policy will take effect in the imminent elections, balancing transparency in turnout data with strict confidentiality of voter identities.