President Shimon Peres and Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Elyakim Rubinstein, launch the advocacy campaign to encourage voting for the 19th Knesset

President Shimon Peres, and Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Elyakim Rubinstein on Sunday morning 24 Teves 5773, at the President’s Residence, launched the advocacy campaign to encourage voting for the 19th Knesset. President Peres called upon all Israelis to exercise their democratic right to vote in the upcoming elections.

President Peres delivered a speech at the event after which, alongside four Israeli students, he unveiled the video and Facebook application, entitled “Bocher Mavi Chaver” which translates as “Voter brings a Friend.” In order to encourage voting, a unique collaboration took place between President Peres and actor Eyal Kitzis, who volunteered for the project to highlight the importance of voting in Israel’s elections, called upon Israelis to invite four friends to get out and vote. President Peres said, “It’s crucial that you come and vote, I turn to you and ask you, go to my Facebook page and send an invitation to four of your friends to also come and vote.”

In his speech, President Peres stressed the importance of voting for the Knesset and said, “I call upon every young person with the right to vote for the first time, don’t miss the opportunity. When you vote you respect not only your country but also yourselves as citizens. Voting is a civic duty of the utmost importance; the result will personally impact each and every one of us personally and form our collective future. Democracy is meant to protect the freedom of the individual and the fairness of society. If citizens don’t take part then democracy remains a mere statement. So every citizen should go and cast their ballot, go and vote.”

Through the social network campaign, Internet users will be able to ensure that their friends have voted by seeing who has “Checked In” on Facebook when they arrive at the ballot box. The aim of the application is to mobilize voters to fulfill their democratic right to vote, but also to encourage social network users to invite additional friends pledge to vote. The application immediately began spreading online with the first 70 to pledge to go out and vote being final year high school students from across Jerusalem who attended the event. Also involved in the production was Yaron Shilon, director at the satire show “Eretz Nehederet” (Wonderful Country), and Sari Alfi, scriptwriter for the show “Mazav HaUma” (State of the Nation).

Central Elections Committee Chairman Judge Elyakim Rubinstein, delivered a speech in which he addressed the importance of voting in the Knesset elections, “The Central Elections Committee is managing a huge civic operation which is apolitical to ensure free and fair elections at over 10,500 voting stations across the country from the north to the south, in the IDF, at hospitals, senior citizen centers and Israeli embassies and consulates across the world.”

Judge Rubinstein added, “They say that young people have no faith in politics; the cynicism that sometimes comes from the political system is met by cynicism in return. But despite that, we saw a wave of youth involvement in summer of 2011 in a political protest, which shows an interest in public life. The way to influence is at the voting booth, if you do not vote, you are not making use of that tool of influence, whether you are satisfied with the current situation or seek change. Voting affects us all collectively and each of you individually.

“Our elected representatives will determine our future in the coming years in terms of security, diplomacy, the peace process, education, the economy, welfare and the environment; and the fulfillment of the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. When serving in the IDF during your compulsory and reserve duty the elected government will determine your fate, and that is a heavy burden of critical significance to the state and to you. That is why I believe voting is both a right and a privilege.”

Judge Rubinstein emphasized the importance of the Arab population taking part in the elections and as the voter turnout amongst the Arab population is particularly low Judge Rubinstein addressed that sector in Arabic http://www.bechirot.gov.il/elections19/arb/home_arb.aspx and said, “To our minority citizens, we invite you to take part in the elections. We want to persuade you of the importance of taking part both for the state and for you individually and in the battle for full equality”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)