IAI Workers Allegedly Directed to Vote Using Pre-Filled Ballots at Nearby Likud Polling Station

On August 17, 2026, employees of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) were reportedly escorted directly from their offices in Yehud to a Likud party polling station located very close to their workplace. According to footage obtained by Channel 12 News, the workers received envelopes containing pre-filled candidate lists, which they simply deposited into the ballot box without marking them individually. An eyewitness described the workers as moving "like a herd, one after the other," with each voting process lasting only about one to one and a half minutes, indicating no personal selection was made.

The polling station was situated at Altalef 3, adjacent to the IAI headquarters at Altalef 2 in Yehud. The operation was allegedly overseen by Yair Katz, the chairman of the IAI workers' union and son of Minister Haim Katz. This has raised concerns about the integrity of the voting process and the involvement of union leadership in directing employee votes. The incident highlights potential coercion or manipulation within a major Israeli defense company during political voting.

The story was first revealed by Channel 12's central news broadcast, which emphasized the unusual proximity of the polling station to the workplace and the pre-arranged nature of the ballots. No official response from IAI or the Likud party was included in the report. Further investigation may follow to clarify the circumstances and legality of the voting procedure.