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Tel Aviv’s local elections committee on Friday ordered the votes of 4,500 soldiers annulled and called for a new vote after an activist for a religious party was caught dumping vote envelopes on to counting tables.
However, the Interior Ministry said the committee did not have the authority to order such a decision, and was looking into the matter.
Though election results were largely finalized by the day after the election, soldiers’ votes arrive late and were being counted Thursday night.
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The man, an observer for the Maaminim (“Believers”) party, which represents the national Jewish Home and United Torah Judaism parties in Tel Aviv, was seen placing unmarked envelopes with votes for his list on a table.
Police were called to the scene to detain the suspect. Tel Aviv’s election committee debated what to do about the soldiers’ votes, which have the potential to move some of the seats on the city council. Taking into consideration the fact that the scope of the apparent fraud was not clear, the committee eventually decided to annul all soldiers’ ballots and hold a new vote.
However, the Interior Ministry said it is doubtful a new vote could take place, for logistical reasons — ballot boxes would again need to be sent to every base where Tel Aviv residents serve — and due to propriety concerns, as soldiers’ second votes could be swayed by their knowledge of the results.
The matter is currently being deliberated.
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