Flights for Voters Deemed Bribery by Election Committee Chair
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, ruled that subsidizing flights for Israelis abroad to vote constitutes bribery. The "Fly&Vote" initiative can no longer offer flight discounts or subsidies. The organization must also cease providing transportation and accommodation on election day. The ruling followed a petition by the Likud party.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Flights for Israelis abroad to vote will be considered bribery, ruled Judge Noam Sohlberg.
- The "Fly&Vote" initiative is banned from offering flight subsidies or discounts.
- The AID Coalition organization must stop providing transportation and accommodation on election day.
- The ruling came after a petition filed by the Likud party.
- The organization must update its website by Thursday to comply with the new rules.
The Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, has ruled that subsidizing flights for Israelis abroad to vote in elections will be considered bribery. The decision came after the Likud party filed a petition against the "Fly&Vote" initiative, run by the AID Coalition organization, which aims to help Israelis living overseas cast their ballots.
As a result of the ruling, the "Fly&Vote" initiative is prohibited from subsidizing or offering discounts on flights for voters, including through group purchasing power. Ticket prices must reflect the market rate available to the general public. The organization had already stated on its website that it does not fund participants and that travelers pay their own costs.
Furthermore, the AID Coalition committed to refraining from electioneering, operating its "Fly&Aid" project, providing transportation for voters on election day, or arranging accommodation for them. Legal or other assistance on election day is also forbidden.
The organization must update its website to comply with these directives by Thursday. The Likud argued in its petition that financial incentives for bringing voters from abroad could constitute election bribery and illegal donations, while AID Coalition presented "Fly&Vote" as a non-partisan effort to facilitate voting rights.
Judge Sohlberg has yet to rule on the costs to be imposed on the respondents in this case.
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