Israel elections, 2nd March 2020 – Special polling stations for Coronavirus voters.
It’s almost time to cast our ballots for the 3rd time in the next round of the Israel elections. Amidst the pre-election campaigns the coronavirus has added a whole new angle to the upcoming election.
Israel’s Knesset – Image credit: Unsplash
25.02.2020 Israel’s Central Elections Committee is setting up special polling stations for voters who are quarantined due to possible exposure to the new coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health is allowing those under quarantine who are asymptomatic to vote, as long as they wear protective face masks. They must also not use public transportation.
12 to 15 special polling stations will be placed all over Israel to enable these people to vote. These polling stations will be placed in tents in major cities. Voters and polling station staff will be physically separated and all will be required to wear special protective clothing.
Latest coronavirus – COVID-19 Israel stats: More than 260 Israelis, including close to 60 high school students from the Haifa area, are now in quarantine.
19.2.2020 There is talk of the establishment of special polling stations for quarantined voters following their return from China, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau (and any other country that may be added to the list until then). Polling stations are mostly located at schools but are also located in other public places which could be off limits to coronavirus victims who are in quarantine and isolation.
The Central Elections Committee said that if special polling stations will be added for those in isolation, they would not be in the same buildings as other polling stations. There is an idea that they might even be placed in health clinics.
Will the current coronavirus situation affect voter turnout? Will opposing parties use the coronavirus as a weapon to create low voter turnout? We will have to wait and see.
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