The Central Elections Committee has submitted a detailed framework to the High Court of Justice for the placement of polling stations in 159 nursing homes across the country ahead of the upcoming elections. The move follows a clear deadline set by the Supreme Court, prompted by an urgent petition filed by elderly residents of assisted living facilities. The petitioners argued that removing the polling stations, which had been standard in previous elections, creates an operational barrier that could prevent many from voting due to mobility challenges and the use of medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers.
According to reports by ynet, the Elections Committee reached out to 290 nursing homes where polling stations were previously placed, and the current framework reflects those facilities that responded affirmatively and met the necessary conditions. The background to the crisis lies in the coalition's decision last July to remove the clause from the election bill that authorized polling stations in non-nursing care facilities. Reports indicated that elements within the coalition, led by Likud faction members, opposed the amendment due to concerns over electoral outcomes, alleging that these institutions house many immigrants, a population identified with the Yisrael Beiteinu party.
At the opening of the hearing, Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit criticized the legislative move, noting that this is an exceptional case where the Knesset is acting to limit the public's ability to vote. Conversely, Justices Ruth Ronnen, Kanfi-Steinitz, and Ofer Grosskopf examined the boundaries of the High Court's authority to intervene in matters of a distinctly political nature during the proceedings. The current proposal is defined as a compromise; although the statutory obligation to place these stations was removed, the Committee declared it will work to deploy stations wherever possible. For legal professionals, this case illustrates the complex tension between political legislative processes and the obligation to make fundamental democratic rights accessible. In practical terms, even where a station is not placed within a facility, the state must provide other accessibility solutions, as pledged to the High Court, to ensure that the elderly are not disenfranchised due to physical disability or place of residence.