Amid mounting complaints from chareidi residents of Beit Shemesh, MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Yaakov Litzman visited polling stations together with police today, Tuesday, 9 Adar II, Election Day in the city.

There have been a growing number of complaints heard from eligible voters from the chareidi areas of the city as the election is underway. Police are blamed for intentionally delaying chareidi voters by harassing them and compelling them to identify themselves repeatedly before permitting them to cast their ballot. While voters may be annoyed, it does not appear that anyone is being deterred as the chareidi tzibur is well-aware that every vote is critical in the election.

MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Yaakov Asher has been voicing his concern amid mounting reports of heavy delays at polling stations in chareidi areas, delays that are being blamed on Israel Police. Asher spoke with Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovich, requesting his intervention to ensure police do not interfere with the mayoral election.

Voter turnout is reported by Kol Berama Radio to be close to 28%, which is significantly higher than in the first election when voter turnout was 14% at the same time.

In addition to the kol korei from gedolei yisrael shlita from both Eretz Yisrael and the United States, Beit Shemesh’s chareidi voters understand a great deal is at stake with the election. For one thing, the election of a secular or chareidi mayor will have a direct impact on construction in the chareidi areas of Ramat Beit Shemesh in the coming years.

Shas party leader MK Aryeh Deri expressed concerns in an interview with Kikar Shabbos on Monday, explaining that in the first election 8,000 residents of Old Beit Shemesh did not vote and candidate Eli Cohen has been working hard to get them out to vote for him in today’s race.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)