The Central Elections Committee convened Tuesday and issued immediate instructions to speed up voting, after high turnout led to long lines and lengthy waits at polling stations across the country.
The session was called at the request of MK Erez Malul (Shas), the committee’s deputy chairman, who asked that clear procedures be sent to all polling-station secretaries to prevent bottlenecks.
Under the new instructions, voters with an expired ID card may not be held up and must be allowed to vote, as long as the photo is clear enough to identify them. Polling stations are permitted, and encouraged, to let the next voter step into the polling area and approach the voting booth while the previous voter is still finishing up with the secretary. Ballot envelopes should be signed in sequence so that signing doesn’t cause backups.
The committee also stressed that voters with disabilities may not be delayed under any circumstances and must be moved to the front of the line. As provided by law, they may enter the voting room with an escort of their choice.
