Perach Israel village sets up mock booth for 200 residents

Perach Israel installed a mock polling station at its rehabilitation village to prepare more than 200 residents for the upcoming Knesset election. The setup includes a voting booth, envelopes, and ballot slips designed to replicate the environment of an official polling location.

Staff members at the village are guiding adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the steps of casting a vote. Instructors explain the right to vote and assist residents in selecting a ballot and placing it inside an envelope, mirroring the actions required on Election Day.

The practice sessions occur one day before the national vote scheduled for October 27. Residents use the rehearsal to familiarize themselves with the physical mechanics of voting in a setting they know well, rather than facing the process for the first time on election morning.

Moshe Stein, CEO of Perach Israel, stated that the right to choose is a daily component of village life. "We work to teach our residents the importance of making their own choices, from deciding what color clothes to wear to choosing how to spend their free time," Stein said. He added that the ability to make independent decisions plays a major role in their quality of life.

The initiative allows eligible residents to practice their civic duty alongside the millions of other Israelis preparing to head to the polls. The goal is to ensure that these adults can cast their ballots for their representatives in the next Knesset without confusion or anxiety.