Election Committee Says No Indication of Systematic Ballot Damage

The Central Elections Committee said each complaint about missing or marked ballots is handled immediately, and told voters how to get a replacement slip.

Israel's Central Elections Committee said on Tuesday, October 27, that it had no indication of systematic damage to party ballots across the country. Every report of an individual case is handled immediately, the committee said.

"At this stage there are no indications of systematic defacing of ballots across the country," the committee said in a statement carried by Ynet and JDN. The statement followed complaints from several parties about missing, marked and damaged slips in polling booths.

What voters should do with a damaged slip

In guidance reported by JDN at 16:00, the committee told voters who find a marked, torn or defective slip to ask the polling station secretary for a replacement. The validity of ballots is decided during the count.

If a party's printed slip is missing, a voter can ask for a blank slip and write the party's approved ballot letters on it in blue pen. A blank slip left empty, or one with only the party's name and not its letters, is invalid.

Netanyahu: right wing ballots are being defaced

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier in the day that "right wing ballots are being defaced in the polling stations," JDN reported. He asked supporters to spread the message.

Netanyahu urged voters to check before voting that their slip is valid and has no extra writing on it, and told them not to write on their ballots.

Hendel and Eisenkot's parties complain

Yoaz Hendel's Reservists and Economy party filed a complaint with the committee over a shortage of its slips at several polling stations and over slips defaced with pen marks. Hendel urged voters to make sure his party's slips were in the booth.

Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party complained that its slips were missing, defaced, marked or turned over in voting booths. "The number of cases raises suspicion of deliberate and systematic harm," the party said. It demanded frequent checks and immediate replenishment of missing slips.

Committee: each report handled immediately

The committee said every report of an isolated case brought to its attention is dealt with at once. Voters can report problems to the polling station staff, who are responsible for replacing missing or damaged slips.

Polls close at 22:00, and the committee will publish results as the count proceeds.