High Court Dismisses Petition for Braille Voting Stencils in Knesset Elections
The High Court of Justice dismissed a petition demanding braille voting stencils for blind citizens in the upcoming Knesset elections, citing procedural delays and logistical constraints.
The High Court of Justice has dismissed a petition filed by Moshe Friedman, who is blind from birth, seeking to ensure secret voting accommodations for blind and visually impaired citizens in the upcoming Knesset elections.
Friedman petitioned against the Central Elections Committee and its chairman, Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Solberg. For 13 years, Friedman has campaigned to exercise his right to vote secretly in Knesset elections without requiring an accompanying person. In June, ahead of the elections to the 26th Knesset, Friedman asked the committee to introduce dedicated voting arrangements, including braille stencils at polling stations to allow independent ballot selection.
Committee Response and Alternatives
The Central Elections Committee rejected the request, stating that the proposed solution raises practical and legal difficulties, notably concerning potential ballot displacement that could mislead visually impaired voters. However, the committee emphasized that existing alternatives already allow for independent voting, such as assistive smartphone applications for ballot identification and bringing pre-prepared standard ballots to avoid entering the voting booth with an escort. The committee added that it will continue exploring further solutions following the 26th Knesset elections.
The remedies sought by the petitioner require significant preparation that cannot be fulfilled given the short time remaining until the elections to the 26th Knesset.
High Court Dismissal
The petition was summarily dismissed by Justices Ruth Ronen, Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, and David Mintz, primarily due to procedural delay. Justice Ronen noted that Friedman had multiple opportunities to petition the court following previous committee rejections in 2015 and 2018. Given the lengthy lapse in time and the proximity of the upcoming elections, the court ruled that judicial intervention was no longer feasible without causing severe logistical disruptions.
