Sohlberg ruling to stop announcing voters' names 'restores respect,' says former deputy A-G
Blass said the ruling also addressed polling stations located in sensitive facilities, where reporting a voter’s presence could reveal additional personal information.
Former deputy attorney-general Mike Blass has expressed that the Supreme Court's ruling to prohibit observers from announcing the identity of voters is a significant step towards restoring respect for voter privacy. According to Blass, the decision preserves sensitive information and political views, preventing the disclosure of potentially embarrassing or revealing data.
In an interview with 103FM, Blass explained that the issue came under scrutiny during public appeals, with some individuals seeking to ban the practice in order to encourage voter turnout among those who had not yet cast their ballots. However, after a comprehensive hearing involving various parties, including the Privacy Protection Authority and the attorney-general, Justice Noam Sohlberg ultimately concluded that the practice infringed on voters' privacy rights.
Blass noted that Sohlberg thoroughly examined Israel's privacy protection laws and election laws, concluding that the reporting process constituted an infringement of a person's privacy, a claim that would be difficult to dispute legally. The reporter explained that the act of reporting a voter's identity, intended for the purpose of voting, constitutes an infringement of privacy, as it involves tracking a person and potentially harassing them.
Furthermore, Blass highlighted that the information gathered through reporting is often used for purposes beyond its intended purpose. It is used to encourage or discourage voting among specific individuals, as well as to reveal a voter's private affairs or political opinions to others. He added that the ruling also addressed polling stations located in sensitive facilities, such as those for people with disabilities, shelters for abused women, or hospitals, where additional personal information would be revealed through reporting.
Justice Sohlberg's ruling not only protects the privacy of individual voters but also maintains a sense of respect for voters' rights to privacy. Blass concluded that the decision restores respect for voters by clarifying the limits of observers' authority, emphasizing that observers, despite acting as public employees on election day, do not possess the authority to perform such actions without violating privacy laws.
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