Supreme Court bars parties from marking supporters who have not yet voted
Published · Updated
What happened
Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling on September 17, 2026, prohibiting parties from using a voter-tracking practice that identifies supporters who have not yet voted on election day. Likud and Religious Zionism then publicly criticized the ruling and tied it to their case for renewed judicial changes.
Why it matters
The ruling changes how parties can run turnout operations in the current campaign and places the court directly into a live election-regulation dispute. It also creates a new reference point for parties that may seek legislation or appointment changes affecting the judiciary after the election.
On September 17, 2026, Israel's Supreme Court barred parties from using the election-day practice known as the 'Elector' method to mark which identified supporters had not yet cast ballots. Likud and Religious Zionism publicly presented the ruling as court intervention in campaign operations and linked it to their broader argument for changing the balance between the judiciary and elected branches. The ruling gives the dispute an immediate operational dimension in the campaign while also supplying a concrete new grievance that could be used in coalition negotiations after the vote.
Watch for
Likud legal team filing a request for further hearing or clarification with the Supreme Court by 2026-09-25 Central Elections Committee chair statement by 2026-09-25 on how parties may lawfully conduct turnout operations under the ruling Religious Zionism announcing by 2026-09-25 a draft coalition demand on override legislation or judicial appointments tied to the ruling Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issuing by 2026-09-25 enforcement guidance to parties on prohibited election-day voter-tracking practices
Sources
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