Israeli expats fight for voting rights after being removed from registry

Ilana Mittman, a retired social scientist holding both American and Israeli citizenship, planned to visit Israel for her late father's Yahrzeit and to vote in the upcoming Oct. 27 national elections. Her shock came when she discovered online that she had been removed from the voter registry, rendering her ineligible to cast a ballot.

Mittman, who has lived in the United States since 1980, maintains strong connections to Israel, watching Hebrew television, following news, staying in touch with family, donating to emergency services, and engaging in pro-Israel advocacy. "I didn't really choose to leave the country; I fell in love with a man who came from overseas, and I followed him," she said. "I’ve grieved for the loss of my country and my friends… It’s been a constant, chronic sorrow."

Investigating her status, Mittman discovered that on March 7, 1986, her residency status was altered under administrative "Code 51." This change coincided with a visit to the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco to register her son as an Israeli citizen. During that appointment, consular staff reportedly took her state-issued ID card, leaving her with only her passport. "I felt I gave a part of myself away when that happened. But I didn’t know that my biggest right as a citizen - the right to vote - was just robbed from me," Mittman stated.

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I didn’t really choose to leave the country; I fell in love with a man who came from overseas, and I followed him. I’ve grieved for the loss of my country and my friends… It’s been a constant, chronic sorrow.

She learned that other members of the expat community have faced similar situations, often discovering their disenfranchisement only after making travel arrangements to vote in person. Under Israel's Basic Law: The Knesset, all citizens aged 18 or older have the right to vote unless a court has deprived them of it. However, in practice, voting is limited to those included in the registry.

Israel classifies citizens designated with "Code 51" as nonresidents and removes them from the voter registry, despite their continued citizenship. This administrative change affects expats across North America, Europe, Australia, and South Africa, raising concerns about the disenfranchisement of a significant portion of the Israeli diaspora.

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I remember how bad of a feeling it was to give that document away. I felt I gave a part of myself away when that happened. But I didn’t know that my biggest right as a citizen - the right to vote - was just robbed from me.