Knesset Constitution Committee set to discuss several election-related issues during Monday meeting
Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is set on Monday to deliberate on a series of special provisions for the upcoming election recommended by the Central Elections Committee in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the electoral system given the current security situation.
The Twenty-Sixth Knesset Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, as recommended by the Central Elections Committee, would permit those who were evacuated as a result of the past several years of military conflict to register new “election addresses,” allow the CEC to meet virtually, give election authorities more flexibility in choosing contractors, and give the chairman of the CEC additional powers to establish special provisions in light of the security situation.
The committee is also recommending several permanent changes to the law, including placing polling stations in any nursing home or assisted living facility with at least 75 residents, moving up the deadline for submitting candidate lists, and requiring the disclosure of the use of generative artificial intelligence in the creation of election material.
Writing to Constitution Committee chairman Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), deputy Supreme Court President and CEC chairman Noam Sohlberg argues that he believes “that the enactment of this bill is essential for promoting a proper election process under the current circumstances,” adding that he “would be grateful for your efforts in advancing this bill and bringing it to legislation so that the Knesset elections can be properly conducted.”
Ynet reported last week that representatives of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition on the committee opposed the move to mandate the operation of polling stations at old age homes throughout the country.
The site quoted a Likud source as claiming that the proposal “will help [Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor] Liberman electorally.” Liberman’s party is part of the opposition.
Polls consistently show that younger voters are to the right, and more supportive of Netanyahu’s political allies, than their elders.
The Times of Israel Community.







