Likud cites 620 polling station complaints

Likud’s election integrity headquarters reported 620 incidents of suspected irregularities at polling stations in the Arab sector on Tuesday. The party stated that these reports were gathered by a network of more than 1,500 representatives stationed across the country.

Approximately one-third of the complaints involved the recording of voters' personal details and the transfer of that information outside the polling station. Another 66 reports concerned problems with ballot papers and envelopes. The remaining issues included 26 instances of difficulty verifying voter identity, 17 cases of violence or threats, and various staffing and documentation problems.

Specific cases highlighted by the headquarters included the disappearance of 10 sealed envelopes at a polling station in Fassuta. In Jadeidi-Makr, officials noted a discrepancy of 11 envelopes between the physical count and the recorded number of voters.

Sagi Kaisler, who leads the Likud integrity unit for the Arab sector, criticized an instruction issued by the director-general of the Central Elections Committee. The order aimed to prevent overcrowding at stations, but Kaisler argued it weakened standard identification and voting procedures.

Kaisler stated that the committee was cutting corners where stricter oversight was required. She demanded an immediate investigation into the suspicions and the deployment of independent observers. The party also requested guarantees of a transparent voting process.

The headquarters called for the application of pressure to manage crowds to be balanced with the enforcement of identification requirements. The 620 reports remain the basis for the party's current demands for external review.