Two petitions challenge voter-tracking decision ahead of Wednesday High Court hearing

Two new petitions have widened Israel’s legal battle over political parties’ ability to track voter turnout in real time. The High Court of Justice is scheduled to hear the challenges on Wednesday morning.

The disputed information does not show how a person voted. It tells parties whether an identified voter has cast a ballot, allowing campaigns to compare the information with their databases and concentrate calls, messages, visits and transportation efforts on likely supporters who have not voted.

The Central Elections Committee voted 19-11 on Sunday, with three abstentions, to reverse an earlier prohibition imposed by committee chairman and Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg. The new petitions ask the court to cancel that decision and restore the prohibition before the October 27 election.

Attorney Shahar Ben-Meir, whose original complaint led to Sohlberg’s ruling, argues that the committee exceeded the terms of a court-approved arrangement. He says a proposal introduced by Likud attorney Ilan Bombach was not placed on the meeting agenda, circulated beforehand or examined during the earlier discussion. Ben-Meir contends that adopting it denied participants a proper opportunity to address its contents.

The second petition came from the Reservists party and its chairman, former communications minister Yoaz Hendel. Ben-Meir also argues that polling-station officials receive voter information to administer and supervise elections, not to support party campaigns, and that the committee lacks clear legal authority to authorize the transfer of personal information. The allegations remain before the court.