Israel General Election Thread: March 17 2015

[danny]

Yeah, people might vote in heavier numbers before going to work and after work or during lunch break. Therefore the lines.

Which means Sunday (or holiday) voting is pretty cool, since people are voting more evenly during the day and there is only 1 peak voting time: after lunch.

I guess Sunday (or holiday) voting is also good for getting enough poll workers, unless you use exclusively retirees - which have time any day.

(PS: polling stations in Austria do not close at 1pm, only in the state of Vorarlberg - which is Swiss-oriented)

Election day is a holiday in Israel, so work isn't a problem.

[danny]

Regarding the Arab vote, it was Bibi saying that It's high, but Ahmed Tibi says that it's lower than last time, and I have no way of knowing what the truth is.

[Tender Branson]

Netanyahu press conference banned from airwaves

The Central Elections Committee has issued an injunction against live broadcasting a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this evening.

Netanyahu's office announced the prime minister intends to make a statement at 5:45 P.M.

The Zionist Union and Yesh Atid parties petitioned the committee against the broadcast. According to the committee's head, Justice Salim Joubran, the statement qualifies as election propaganda, and is therefore banned.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-election-2015/1.647304

Excellent.

[ag]

The 90 year old grandfather of the Likud MK Elkin collapsed and died at the polling station, right after voting.

[ag]

Regarding the Arab vote, it was Bibi saying that It's high, but Ahmed Tibi says that it's lower than last time, and I have no way of knowing what the truth is.

Haaretz says that, anecdotally, it is higher. Remains to be seen.

[Zanas]

The 90 year old grandfather of the Likud MK Elkin collapsed and died at the polling station, right after voting.

He voted Labour, Elohim immediately stroke him.

[MalaspinaGold]

1. RIP to MK Elkin's Grandfather, horrible news.
2. Left-wingers are really good at over-blowing comments, such as Bibi's today on the Arab vote. Fake outrage seems to be a left-wing ideal, just like doomsday-esque nonsense is a right wing one.

Imagine if someone on the left had said the same thing about Sephardim in South Tel Aviv, or Russians in Ashdod. The right would be having a collective fit (actually, they did, with Garbuz's idiotic comments)...

[ag]

54.6% turnout by 6 PM, as compared to 55.5% in 2013. The numbers getting closer to the last time.

[Tender Branson]

54.6% turnout by 6 PM, as compared to 55.5% in 2013. The numbers getting closer to the last time.

Which means 65-68% after all is said and done.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

The leaflet suggests that if you vote Shas you'll go to heaven. A message brought to you by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (pictured) who is dead.

lmaoshas

The fact that he is dead already would seem to give him more credibility on the issue.

[Хahar 🤔]

And now Likud is basically implying the liberal parties are bussing in Arabs and buying votes.

This is disgusting. Even conservative Israelis should be appalled by how Bibi has Americanized their electoral process.

Speaking of which : my brother and I were wondering yesterday evening whether Israeli elections taking place on Tuesday is due to American electoral influence, or other type of influence. Broadly speaking, normal countries vote on Sundays, the sane option, and anglo-saxon influenced countries vote during the week, mainly on Tuesdays or Thursdays, the insane option.

Sunday is a work day in Israel, so no better than any other day. And Saturday would be impossible due to the Jewish Sabbath restrictions. And if Saturday is impossible, so is Friday and, in fact Sunday - otherwise you'd be discriminating against the Muslims and Christians. Hence, not much choice, really.

Well, yeah, actually, still a choice between Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ! So why Tuesday ?

Well, not really Thursday: getting too close to the Muslim Sabbath as well. Why not Tuesday then?

Of course, there is, properly speaking, no such thing as a Muslim Sabbath, only a day of congregational prayer. Still I imagine that Muslims would be offended by a Friday election.

[DL]

Interestingly Sunday is supposed to be the Christian sabbath/day or rest - and yet that doesn't stop overwhelmingly Christian countries such as France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina and many others from having national elections on Sundays!

Is there some rule i missed that says that Jews and Muslims consider voting to be "work" while Christians see it as a "rest day activity"?

[ag]

Interestingly Sunday is supposed to be the Christian sabbath/day or rest - and yet that doesn't stop overwhelmingly Christian countries such as France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina and many others from having national elections on Sundays!

Is there some rule i missed that says that Jews and Muslims consider voting to be "work" while Christians see it as a "rest day activity"?

Muslims, probably, not. But Jews... Well, first of all, you have to go out of your home. And on Saturday you cannot use any transportation, you cannot carry anything outdoors, etc., etc.. BTW, wouldn´t the ballot be carried? I am not religious authority here, but there are simply too many restrictions. And, of course, party and election workers would have to, you know, WORK. A Jew not only should not work on Saturday, but also should not cause another Jew working.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

And now Likud is basically implying the liberal parties are bussing in Arabs and buying votes.

This is disgusting. Even conservative Israelis should be appalled by how Bibi has Americanized their electoral process.

You know what?  Bibi is afraid of Arabs voting, because he doesn't want the substantial Arab minority with even the tiniest amount of power.  Doesn't that sound familiar?

[Linus Van Pelt]

No country with a non-Lutheran Protestant majority has elections on a Sunday, and it is no coincidence: once upon a time, it would have been viewed as very problematic.

[MaxQue]

No country with a non-Lutheran Protestant majority has elections on a Sunday, and it is no coincidence: once upon a time, it would have been viewed as very problematic.

France?

[politicus]

No country with a non-Lutheran Protestant majority has elections on a Sunday, and it is no coincidence: once upon a time, it would have been viewed as very problematic.

France?

Did you misread it? France does not have a Protestant majority.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Turnout now slightly up on last time. A BBC reporter at Likud HQ says that there are rumours of a close race, but that he has no idea what the sources for this are.

[ag]

Found an YB voter on livejournal (for the non-Russians: Russians, for some reason, like it). Interestingly, the motivation seems to be pro-Russian (and anti-Ukrainian)

[danny]

65.7% vote until 20:00, higher than any year since 1999 again, will probably pass 70% now.

[ag]

65.7% vote until 20:00, higher than any year since 1999 again, will probably pass 70% now.

Wonder, which party is mobilizing better. Who has better groundwork.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Number-based rumours starting to circulate: suggestions of squeeze in favour of the big parties.

No idea of accuracy.

[Comrade Funk]

65.7% vote until 20:00, higher than any year since 1999 again, will probably pass 70% now.

Wonder, which party is mobilizing better. Who has better groundwork.

Must be those buses full of Arabs. To help the International Zionist Union Conspiracy!

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Number-based rumours starting to circulate: suggestions of squeeze in favour of the big parties.

No idea of accuracy.

Squeeze in favor or two biggest parties - A la Holland 2010?

[danny]

Number-based rumours starting to circulate: suggestions of squeeze in favour of the big parties.

No idea of accuracy.

Squeeze in favor or two biggest parties - A la Holland 2010?

Or Israel 2009. And yes those are indeed the rumours, Bennet is sounding particularly panicked.