The High Court of Justice has reportedly ordered the Central Elections Committee to take action and update the court within a week regarding the cancellation of polling stations in nursing homes, saying 'we must regret the Knesset's decision,' according to a report.
The High Court of Justice earlier today ordered the Central Elections Committee to take action and report back within a week regarding the Knesset's cancellation of polling stations in nursing homes, expressing regret over the move. The order, reported by Israeli media at 09:45 Jerusalem, caps a day of hearings in which Supreme Court President Isaac Amit criticized the decision and praised the previous arrangement that 'worked excellently.'
The controversy began on Friday, July 3, when the government, led by Likud, voted to remove voting booths from nursing homes while retaining them in prisons — drawing online criticism: 'Prisoners get to vote but nursing home residents don't?' MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) subsequently introduced a bill to restore the booths, but the coalition voted it down on July 14. Kariv warned at the time that if the issue was not resolved, the matter would be taken to court.
President Amit, who chaired the Elections Committee in the previous election, said Tuesday that the Knesset 'is moving backwards, it doesn't care,' according to N12. The court's intervention now gives the Elections Committee one week to find a solution before election day.
It remains unclear how the committee will comply with the court's directive, and whether a viable polling arrangement for nursing home residents can be put in place within the timeframe.
4 developments
- StrongElections Committee to Place Polling Stations in Nursing Homes Without Knesset Law
- DevelopingIsrael bars voting booths in nursing homes, keeps them in prisons
- StrongMK Kariv: Coalition voted down nursing-home polling bill — 'If not resolved, we'll meet in court'
- StrongHigh Court unanimously annuls state comptroller vote, orders new election
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