Preventing Manipulation: Central Elections Committee Issues New Polling Requirements

The acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Adv. Dean Livne, has sent a formal letter to the editors of polling institutes and media outlets, reminding them of their legal obligation to transfer data from all public-facing polls to the Central Elections Committee. This directive is based on Section 16 of the Election Propaganda Law, which aims to allow the public to verify data and ensure that no deception is taking place through biased question phrasing.

According to the law and past rulings by the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, starting tomorrow—exactly 90 days before the elections—poll data must be submitted within 96 hours of publication. In the final two weeks before the elections, this window is reduced to 24 hours.

Under this directive, all relevant data must be disclosed, including:

• The specific questions asked

• The date the poll was conducted

• The commissioning party

• The polling methodology

• The sample size and population demographics

Adv. Livne stated, "It is our position that strict adherence to the provisions of this law is essential." He further cited remarks previously made by Judge Salim Joubran regarding the Ale Yarok party:

"Polls may have misleading and even fateful effects on those lists that are wavering or not passing the electoral threshold."

The Central Elections Committee has established a dedicated, secure website for the submission of these polls and their raw data.