A First for Likud: Demand for Digital Voting in Primaries

For the first time since discussions began regarding the upcoming Likud primaries, an official demand was raised today to examine digital voting for reservists. The chairman of the Likud Reservists Forum, Adv. Shlomo Lerner, has requested that the party CEO, David Sharan, formulate a mechanism allowing members on active duty to participate in the primaries.

In his letter, Lerner notes that since October 7, tens of thousands of reservists have been serving in prolonged combat rounds, including thousands of Likud members. According to him, the party must prevent a situation where military service compromises their right to influence the composition of the party's list for the Knesset. Among the proposed alternatives are a digital voting system or the deployment of mobile polling stations in combat zones.

Until now, the possibility of digital voting in the primaries has not been given significant weight in internal Likud discussions. However, as the date of the primaries approaches, and against the backdrop of the continued reserve service of thousands of members, more voices are calling for solutions that allow for the widest possible participation without compromising the integrity of the elections.

This appeal comes in the midst of a turbulent period for the party regarding the primaries. In recent weeks, legal and political disputes have taken place regarding the election outline, regulations, and authorities in the event of an emergency, and eventually, understandings were reached that allow for continued preparations.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the president of the Likud Court, Adv. Michael Kleiner, stated in an interview with Channel 14 that he does not rule out the possibility of considering alternative arrangements should an emergency make it impossible to hold standard primaries.