Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman are major proponents of an effort to permit Israeli citizens around the world to cast their ballots in Knesset elections, mimicking other Western nations that permit absentee ballots. Presently, only registered voters present in Israel may take part in Knesset elections.

The bill was officially submitted by MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Alex Miller, a bill that if passed into law will permit hundreds of thousands of Israelis abroad to cast their ballots in the next election. This would include Israelis visiting and living abroad. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, in the last general election, a year ago, 500,000 eligible voters were abroad. Needless to say, this could have a significant impact on the outcome an elections, not one that would likely favor frum parties.

Presently, the only eligible voters permitted to cast a ballot from outside the country are official state emissaries, members of the diplomatic corps for example.

Amending the election law is one of the stipulations appearing in the coalition agreement signed with Yisrael Beitenu, to bring the party into the government.

At present, there is formidable opposition, including the Labor and Shas Parties, which have expressed opposition, but the opposition is not expected to result in a coalition crisis. Kadima, the opposition leader on the other hand is adamant in its opposition, and is already threatening to bring a no-confidence motion against the government to halt the bill. Kadima leader MK Tzipi Livni believes the privilege of determining the future of the State of Israel belongs to those living here, those who will live the consequences of their decision, “for good or for bad”.

Minister of Improvement in Government Services (Likud) Michael Eitan explains that all 500,000 will not be given the right to vote, adding those who cut ties with the Jewish state will not be voting. He estimates that the maximum number would reach an additional 100,000 voteers, stating that this means the bill will result in an insignificant impact on the election outcome. Eitan stated the draft bill states that voting rights would only be given to Israelis who have been in the country for at least 40 days in the past six years.

Eitan added that when he spearheaded efforts to prohibit accepting money for election campaigns via non-profits from people abroad, he was met with stern resistance. Now that he wishes to permit eligible voters to cast their ballots, there is opposition.

He explained one cannot permit giving money and not permit the same people to vote. Eitan also feels the bill is positive because it will permit university students abroad to vote.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)