Bill Allowing IDF Soldiers to Vote From the Field Advanced

By Aryeh Weiss

A bill enabling IDF soldiers to participate in the upcoming municipal elections directly from the field, including the Gaza Strip, passed its initial reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.

The proposed legislation, put forth by National Unity MKs Michael Biton and Ze’ev Elkin, also includes provisions for soldiers to cast their votes in designated polling places a week prior to the election to ensure accessibility for all soldiers in regular or active reserve service.

The nationwide municipal elections, initially scheduled for last October, then postponed to January, were unanimously postponed by the Cabinet until Feb. 27, due to the ongoing war.

The IDF had previously informed the government that 688 reservists, running as candidates, would likely be unable to campaign if the elections were to be held in January.

The inability of soldiers to vote while stationed in Gaza was raised by Yisrael Beytenu party leader MK Avigdor Liberman as one of the reasons to avoid a general election, despite his opposition to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the current government. “Do we set up a ballot box in Khan Yunis?” Liberman asked.