Prisoners vote in general elections

Some 12,000 prisoners begin fulfilling democratic right within prison walls. Voting turnout among prisoners generally very high, with 80% turnout in 2006 elections

Raanan Ben-Zur|Published: 02.10.09 , 12:08

Like the rest of the citizens of Israel, some 12,000 prisoners held in jails across the country began fulfilling their democratic right to vote Tuesday morning.

All prisoners have the right to vote, including security prisoners with Israeli citizenships. Voter turnout among prisoners is traditionally very high, and in the previous elections in 2006, 80% of prisoners eligible to vote cast their ballots.

The Israel Prison Service prepared for the elections for the 18th Knesset by placing and manning 56 polling stations in prisons throughout the country.

Prisoners in open wings will be able to present their ID cards to members of the polling station committee and cast their vote. According to the Prison Service's legal advisor Brigadier Haim Shmulevitz, prisoners who do not have an ID will undergo a meticulous identification process and will be able to vote.

A portable polling station will pass through prisons that have isolated wings and contain dangerous prisoners or prisoners whose lives may be at risk, to ensure that every single prisoner gets the chance to vote.

Prisoners located in isolated wings include late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir, head of a Netanya organized crime family Asi Abutbul and more.

According to Shmulevitz, the Prison Service has also made preparations to ensure that anyone arrested on election day gets the chance to vote. "Even if someone is arrested tonight before getting the chance to vote, we will allow them to exercise their right to vote – even if it's before their investigation," he said.

Shmulevitz added that special arrangements were made for prisoners who may be under pressure not to vote or do not want to show up at the polling station.

"We will take (the prisoner) to the polling station committee, where he will have to declare to them and sign a document stating that he does not want to vote of his own free will.

"In the event that a prisoner does not want to stand before the polling station committee, an officer will be able to have the prisoner sign a document stating that the prisoner waives their right to vote," he said.

The 3,000 prison guards working on Tuesday will also be able to vote within the walls of the prison.