Hanan Melcer

File: Officials count the ballots from soldiers and absentees at the Knesset in Jerusalem, a day after the general election, April 10, 2019 (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

October 16, 2019, 10:33 pm

Election czar urges probes into voting fraud at 30 polling stations

Melcer also passes along testimony from poll watchers who said they arrived at posts on election day to find someone else already there claiming to be them

By Jacob Magid

Central Election Committee chairman Hanan Meltzer presents the official results of the elections to the 22nd Knesset to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, at the President's residence in Jerusalem, on September 25, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 25, 2019, 3:41 pm

Elections Committee publishes final results, hands them to president

Presenting tally after week-long count, Justice Melcer says commission proved a ‘steadfast protector of Israeli democracy’; Rivlin praises ‘free elections… without fear or favor’

By Raoul Wootliff

Lawyers at the Knesset in Jerusalem check votes cast during elections on September 17, in a final review prior to presentation of the results to President Reuven Rivlin, September 23, 2019. (Sue Surkes).

September 23, 2019, 10:44 pm

Scores of lawyers still scouring ballots to ensure accurate final result

Prior to presentation of final tally to President Rivlin on Wednesday, lawyers and Central Elections Committee officials work into the night to review 2,000 polling stations

By Sue Surkes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara cast their vote at a polling station in Jerusalem during the Knesset elections, April 9, 2019. (Haim Zach/GPO)

September 16, 2019, 6:08 pm

Election czar: Despite camera ban, politicians can say cheese as they vote

Central Elections Committee head says media can still take photos of leaders as they cast their ballots, though candidates and MKs must not campaign

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Supreme Court Justice Hanan Melcer, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, at the Knesset on April 3, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 16, 2019, 6:05 pm

Elections Committee head was told vote could be delayed due to war – report

As PM pushed last week for ‘far-reaching’ response to Gaza rocket that forced him off stage, national security adviser said to have alerted Hanan Melcer elections might be put off

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walks in the Knesset on September 15, 2019, two days before elections. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 16, 2019, 4:21 pm

Vowing annexation, charging voter fraud, ‘King Bibi’ looks poised to extend rule

If polls are in the ballpark, Netanyahu’s tactics will have worked and next Knesset will represent more hawkish Israeli electorate, undeterred by his attacks on media, cops, judges

By David Horovitz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press statement in the Knesset on September 15, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 16, 2019, 6:09 am

Netanyahu alleges ‘rampant’ Arab voter fraud scandal, but his claim is unfounded

PM insists law enforcement not properly probing ballot infractions in Arab sector; official says Likud’s officials endured threats, but those cases did not amount to voter fraud

By Jacob Magid

An Arab Israeli man prepares to vote in Israel's parliamentary elections on April 9, 2019, at a school-turned-polling station in the northern Israeli town of Taibe. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)

September 15, 2019, 10:13 pm

With cameras banned, new right-wing patrol seeks to ‘prevent Arab voter fraud’

Election czar set to rule on new initiative by settler leaders that would see dozens stand outside polling stations to provide ‘feeling of security’ for ballot officials inside

By Jacob Magid

Justice Hanan Melcer, chairman of the Central Elections Committee. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 15, 2019, 3:27 pm

Elections chief turns down Netanyahu’s request to meet over ‘election fraud’

Hanan Melcer cites ‘tight schedule’ two days before ballot in refusing PM’s call to discuss claims of voter fraud in Arab towns, panned by opponents as Likud campaign stunt

By TOI staff

Central Elections Committee head Justice Hanan Melcer at the Knesset, April 11, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

September 14, 2019, 5:13 pm

Opposition slams PM’s request for talks with Melcer over ‘election fraud’

Netanyahu’s call for meeting with Central Elections Committee head comes as his Likud party pushes claims of rampant voter fraud among Arabs in last election

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points at a map of the Jordan Valley as he gives a statement, promising to extend Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea area, in Ramat Gan on September 10, 2019. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

September 13, 2019, 12:41 am

Netanyahu, Likud fined for electioneering during Jordan Valley declaration

Election Committee chief slaps NIS 30,000 penalty on prime minister and his party for backtracking on promise not to include campaign propaganda during live TV statement

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Counting ballots from soldiers and absentees at the Knesset in Jerusalem, a day after the general elections for the 20th Israeli parliament. March 18, 2015. (Miriam Alster/ FLASH90)

September 9, 2019, 1:56 pm

Netanyahu claims his Knesset majority was stolen from him. Does that add up?

Could cameras placed in polling stations to stamp out alleged voter fraud have actually won the April ballot for the PM? ToI does the math

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves 10 Downing Street in London on September 5, 2019, after a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP)

September 6, 2019, 9:38 pm

Netanyahu: Those who oppose polling station cameras ‘want to steal elections’

Analysts say PM stepping up his rhetoric as elections approach, but warn his words could lead to violence if he loses vote; AG says cameras will undermine elections

By TOI staff

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit speaks at a conference in Airport City, outside Tel Aviv, on September 3, 2019 (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

September 6, 2019, 6:06 pm

AG: Passing ‘flawed’ Camera Bill before election day would play havoc with vote

Avichai Mandelblit to attend Sunday cabinet meeting to warn ministers against ‘aberrant’ expedited bid to allow party observers to bring cameras into polling stations

By TOI staff

A hidden camera allegedly snuck into a polling station in an Arab town by a Likud observer during parliamentary elections on April 9, 2019. (Courtesy Hadash-Ta'al)

August 28, 2019, 5:48 am

After banning Likud’s cameras from polling stations, state now wants to buy them

Election overseer gives go ahead for pilot project for state observers to film when there is suspicion of fraud, and reportedly turns to the only source with enough body cameras

By Jacob Magid and TOI staff