Likud Seeks Opposition Support to Legalize "Elector" App
Following the Central Elections Committee chairman's ban on apps that record voting data, the coalition is attempting to pass legislation to authorize their use. The opposition has yet to respond, while Likud's legal counsel has requested a reconsideration of the ruling.
In an attempt to circumvent the ruling by Central Elections Committee chairman Judge Noam Solberg, which banned the use of dedicated applications for real-time voting data transmission, the coalition is seeking support from the opposition. Ynet has learned that Likud intends to promote a legislative amendment to legalize the "Elector" application, establishing that its use does not constitute a privacy violation.
Judge Solberg's decision has deprived parties of a primary tool for voter mobilization. Relying on an opinion from the Attorney General, which suggests that election laws take precedence over privacy regulations, coalition representatives have approached the opposition to draft a consensus-based bill. There has been no official response from the opposition thus far.
Meanwhile, attorney Ilan Bombach, representing Likud, has appealed to Judge Solberg to reconsider the ruling. In his request, he stated:
"We believe the decision is erroneous and that voter privacy and the secrecy of the ballot are maintained under the practices established over decades. No one knows how a voter actually voted, as they are entitled to cast a blank ballot, which is equivalent to not voting at all."
Attorney Bombach urged the committee to cancel the decision or, at the very least, stay its implementation until the elections for the 26th Knesset.
On Tuesday, Judge Solberg ruled that party observers are prohibited from transmitting the identities of voters to their parties during election day. This tool has been extensively used by major parties, including Likud, to analyze turnout and conduct targeted campaigns. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently utilized this data to mobilize voters in specific areas.
In his ruling, Judge Solberg determined that transmitting information regarding the act of voting, the time of voting, and the type of polling station (such as hospital stations) violates the Privacy Protection Law. The court emphasized that current election laws do not authorize party representatives to collect or transfer such information without explicit legal permission.
