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Who has the right to vote in the Israeli elections? (Legal Guide)

Michael Decker
Michael Decker

The right to vote in the Israeli elections is reserved for Israeli citizens who are 18 years or older and whose name is registered in the voters’ registry. People whose legal status at the time of the elections is only that of a permanent resident do not have the right to vote. Likewise, Israeli citizens staying abroad will not be able to vote, aside from the exceptional cases of civil servants and their families, who can vote in Israeli embassies and consulates abroad. In this short legal guide, attorney Michael Decker, a partner in our firm and an expert in constitutional and administrative law, will answer common questions about the right to vote on the day of the Israeli elections.

vote in the Israeli elections

Interested in voting in the elections? You should know your rights well

The right to vote is a fundamental to any citizen in a democratic country. According to Israeli law, elections for the Knesset are scheduled to take place every 4 years, following the end of the elected Knesset’s term of office. However, in typical Israeli fashion, the unique political environment leads to elections being held much more frequently, for various reasons. Because of this, it is particularly important to know the civil right to vote in the Israeli elections.

Our firm, which deals extensively in the field of constitutional and administrative law, often receives inquiries regarding the right to vote in the Israeli elections. Many do not know, for example, whether or not they can vote in the elections if they are only residents, not citizens, or whether or not they can vote remotely. In addition, many people are unaware of the fact that their name must appear in the voters’ registry in order to vote. For those of you who are confused about your legal situation regarding your right to vote on the day of the Israeli elections, we have prepared this short guide which provides answers to frequently asked questions.

Who has the right to vote in the Israeli elections?

The right to vote in the Israeli elections is defined in the Knesset Elections Law, according to which there are three basic conditions for voting. The most well-known condition is that the voting age is 18 or older. Another important condition is that only Israeli citizens may vote. The third and lesser-known condition is that voters’ names must appear in the voters’ registry, which is issued before each Knesset election date by the Interior Ministry. As a rule, the voters’ registry includes all Israeli citizens registered in the Population Registry, and their designated voting location is determined according to their updated address in the registry.

Hence, even those who are citizens of Israel but have lived abroad for many years may be entitled to vote in the elections, as long as their names appear in the voters’ registry. However, if their name has been removed from the Population Registry, for whatever reason, their name may not be included in the voters’ registry, leading to them being unable to vote. As a result, those who wish to exercise their right to vote in the Israeli elections must verify ahead of time that their name appears in the voters’ registry, and, if required, update their details in the Population Registry.

Do permanent residents have the right to vote?

We are asked this question quite frequently, due to our extensive work in the field of immigration law and in assisting foreign citizens and immigrants to obtain legal status in Israel. It is important to know that Israeli law explicitly states that only Israeli citizens have the right to vote in the elections. Hence, those who have the status of permanent residents cannot vote. This subject often creates confusion, since permanent resident status in Israel confers many other rights identical to those of Israeli citizens, including the right to vote in elections for local authorities. Along with the rights, permanent residents have the same obligations as citizens, including paying taxes. Despite all of the above, permanent residents cannot vote in the Knesset elections according to law. Those who wish to vote must become citizens, by way of the naturalization procedure for permanent residents.

Can you exercise your right to vote in the Israeli elections from abroad?

The answer to this question is complicated, since some people do have the right to vote from abroad, but very few. This fact often causes confusion on the subject. The Knesset Elections Law defines an exception for a limited number of Israelis staying abroad for work purposes, whether it be their own work or that of a nuclear family member. This exception covers civil servants (including IDF soldiers), Jewish National Fund (JNF) employees, World Zionist Organization employees and Jewish Agency employees. All of the above, as long as they have the right to vote and are staying abroad due to their work, may vote in Israeli embassies and consulates abroad. This also applies to the spouses and children of the aforementioned employees (up to the age of 20) who are staying with them and who have the right to vote.

It is important to know that voting abroad takes place before election day in Israel (12 days earlier) and is coordinated in advance. Accordingly, only a handful of people have this right, and it does not apply to all Israeli citizens staying abroad. Thus, for example, an Israeli citizen who is forced to fly abroad due to a relative’s funeral or other sudden event, is actually denied his/her right to vote if the event takes place on election day. Despite various initiatives to change the law on the subject, as of the time of writing these lines, it is not possible to vote from abroad, except in the cases mentioned above. Unlike other countries, Israeli law does not allow voting by mail, power of attorney or other similar methods. Those staying abroad due to studies, business, or travel, or living overseas, are generally required to come to Israel in order to vote.

The right to vote in the Israeli elections – contact an attorney specializing in constitutional and administrative law

In this article, we have answered some common questions regarding the right to vote in the Israeli elections, including the basic conditions for exercising the right, the (in)ability of permanent residents to vote and the exceptional cases in which it is possible to vote from abroad. If you have specific questions or need any consultation or assistance on the matter, our firm’s attorneys, in our offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, are available to be of service to you. Our firm has extensive experience in representing clients and dealing with various legal issues in the field of administrative and constitutional law. In addition, our office provides comprehensive and professional service for issues in the field of Israeli immigration law, including obtaining legal status and Israeli immigration procedures and naturalization for permanent residents (a requirement to be eligible to vote in the elections). You can contact us at the phone numbers and email address below.

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