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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Israel's election committee floats livestreaming vote count amid concerns of fraud, AI misinformation

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Israel's Central Elections Committee is considering livestreaming the vote count for the next national election to boost public confidence.
  • The committee aims for transparent elections, though its head stated large-scale fraud is impossible.
  • Officials are urging voters to rely on official sources to combat misinformation, particularly on platforms like WhatsApp.

Israel's Central Elections Committee is exploring the possibility of livestreaming the vote-counting process for the upcoming national election, a move aimed at strengthening public trust in the results. Din Livne, head of the committee, announced the consideration at the Israel Hayom Conference, stating the goal is to hold "the most transparent elections ever."

We are considering broadcasting the vote-counting operation in the Knesset live on the internet. Anyone who wants to watch will be able to do so. We will also livestream the secure storage vault containing the ballot envelopes.

— Din LivneHead of the Central Elections Committee, explaining the proposed measure to increase transparency.

Livne asserted that while large-scale election fraud is "impossible" in Israel, the livestreaming of the vote count and the secure storage of ballot envelopes could help preemptively quell conspiracy theories. "Anyone who wants to watch will be able to do so. We will also livestream the secure storage vault containing the ballot envelopes," he said, referring to the hundreds of thousands of double-envelope ballots.

Despite confidence in the integrity of the voting process, Livne acknowledged the potential for "large-scale intellectual manipulation" and warned voters against believing information received through unofficial channels like WhatsApp. "Don't believe what you receive on WhatsApp," he urged. "Today there are advanced technological tools that make it much easier to convince people that what happened didn't happen, or that the opposite happened."

Don't believe what you receive on WhatsApp. Today there are advanced technological tools that make it much easier to convince people that what happened didn't happen, or that the opposite happened.

— Din LivneWarning voters about the potential for misinformation and manipulation.

The committee is actively encouraging voters to verify details about polling stations and candidates through official sources. Livne stressed, "If someone tells you a polling station has been closed, don't believe what you received on WhatsApp or over the phone. Check our website - we will tell you the truth." He also noted a directive for voters revealing their vote to be sent back to cast a new ballot, though the legality of this directive is unclear.

If someone tells you a polling station has been closed, don't believe what you received on WhatsApp or over the phone. Check our website - we will tell you the truth.

— Din LivneAdvising voters on how to verify information during the election.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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