Election Committee changes rules as polling lines grow

The Central Election Committee changed its guidelines for polling-station secretaries Tuesday after heavy crowding was reported at stations across the country. The change came following complaints from several MKs and reports of long lines at many polling places.

Under the new guideline, secretaries may begin identifying the next voter in line while the current voter is casting a ballot behind the curtain. The move is intended to speed up the voting process and prevent the long queues that built up during the day.

The new guidelines

Expired identity cards: Voters may not be delayed. Full voting must be permitted even with an expired identity card, provided the photograph is clear and allows identification.

Continuous voting flow: It is permitted and recommended to allow the next voter to enter the polling area and approach the curtain while the previous voter is completing the voting process with the secretary.

Efficient envelope signing: Voters may not be delayed for signing ballot envelopes; signing will be done in sequence without creating bottlenecks at the station.

Priority for people with disabilities: There is an absolute prohibition on delaying voters with disabilities. They must be given immediate priority in line.

Assistance and accessibility: People with disabilities must be allowed to enter the voting room accompanied by an escort of their choice, as provided by law.

The director-general of the Central Election Committee issued a sharp warning to polling-station secretaries: "A station secretary who does not prevent crowding will be removed from his position." The warning comes against the background of reports of heavy crowding at a large number of stations, which caused long lines and voters who waited for extended periods.

It should be noted that in recent hours there were reports that the committee was considering extending polling-station closing times in some locations due to the crowding. However, as of now, a different directive has been issued, changing identification procedures instead of extending voting hours.

As a reminder, 7,331,981 eligible voters went to the polls across the country today as part of the elections for the 26th Knesset. A total of 12,018 polling stations are operating nationwide, with most stations opening at 07:00 and closing at 22:00.

The election-integrity monitoring system includes approximately 15,000 cameras, alongside inspections and checks throughout the voting. The committee's command and control center at the Knesset is coordinating the nationwide picture. Earlier, low turnout was reported in the chareidi sector, compared to high turnout rates in other sectors. The new guideline is intended to allow anyone who wishes to vote to do so without unnecessary delays.