Tzeva Shachor claims ballots vanishing as voter backs party

Voter casting ballot for Tzeva Shachor (Photo: Courtesy)

Yaakov Chaim Miller, chairman of the Tzeva Shachor party, released a video on Tuesday claiming that ballots marked "Ner" - his party's letters - are disappearing from polling stations. "We are receiving reports of Tzeva Shachor 'Ner' ballots vanishing from the ballot boxes, alongside very strong voting numbers for Tzeva Shachor," Miller said.

In addition, footage emerged of a traditional Jew casting his vote for Tzeva Shachor, the party that has made the draft and yeshiva funding its central issue. The video adds to a day of upheaval surrounding the chareidi vote.

Tzeva Shachor has drawn support among younger chareidim and may be the surprise of the election. The party claims to represent some 246,000 chareidim who are not reflected in current polling for Shas and United Torah Judaism.

According to the Tzeva Shachor campaign, seven out of ten of its supporters would not have voted at all this year if the party were not running. The party says most of its backers are not choosing between Tzeva Shachor and Shas or UTJ. they are choosing between voting for the new party and staying home.

The party is presenting a scenario in which Shas and UTJ together win 15 seats, and Tzeva Shachor adds four, bringing total chareidi representation to 19 mandates. However, Rav Dov Lando shlita, the leader of the Lithuanian public, spoke sharply against those voting for the party: "I say they have Gehinnom waiting for them, Gehinnom for everything."

In an interview with Kikar FM, Miller made clear that pressure will not work on his party. "They know that gedolei Yisrael sent us to establish this party," he said, adding: "We will run to the end and you will find us at the ballot box."

Alongside the political activity at polling stations, extreme initiatives to disrupt public order on election day itself are taking shape. Various groups are attempting to hold stormy demonstrations and block major traffic arteries across the country, in protest over the arrest of yeshiva students.