MDA to Run Polling Stations for Coronavirus Patients

The special polling stations for voters in quarantine for exposure to coronavirus will be run by Magen David Adom workers in masks and gloves, The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday.

While the government had promised several weeks ago that those in quarantine would not be denied their voting rights, Central Elections Committee head Orly Ades told the Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday that they could not find workers willing to staff the special polling places, until MDA director-general Eli Bin said that his people would do it.

Health Ministry director-general Moshe Bar-Simantov issued a directive on Sunday that anyone quarantined who is not showing signs of being sick from the virus could go out and vote at one of the dozen or more tents that will be set up for their use.

But he said they must wear a mask and not take public transportation to get there and back.

The original date for the current election was Tuesday, March 10. The Knesset voted to move it forward to March 2, because March 10 is Purim, when Jews traditionally wear masks and other costumes.

But, as the Post observed, “despite the intentions of the MKs when they dispersed the Knesset, there will be Israelis voting in masks after all.”