The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Civil Rights Association today to allow prisoners to vote in next month’s Knesset elections. The five justice panel that ruled on the issue declined to state their reasons but are expected to do so at a later date.
The court acknowledged that prisoners have the basic right to vote but took into consideration technical difficulties. Lawyers for the State argued that it was impossible to make the necessary arrangements, given the short time before election day, July 23.
Unlike many other countries where persons serving time in jail are denied their civil rights, Israeli law stipulates that every citizen has the right to vote. But the election law requires that the voters cast ballots at the polling place closest to their homes. The rule is waived only for members of the armed forces on active duty and seamen far from home.
Today’s decision by the Supreme Court was interpreted by some to be a recommendation that the same waiver be extended to prison inmates, effective with the next elections.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
