Not voting only gives the appearance that you are indifferent, except that you are not indifferent. Only by voting can you get any sort of positive message out. If everyone witheld their vote, we would have complete anarchy.

You loose your right to complain when you do not vote. Not voting and low voter turn out gives the politicans all of the things you mention. If you do not vote do not complain Paul

YNET news should NOT promote Ervin Eran Shahar's stupidity. Such a so-called " protest " diminishes the possibility of repairing the damage it is protesting against !

In 1977 I had the privilege of being present in Spain for the first open elections since the Fascists launched the Spanish Civil, 41 years earlier. I collected handbills, some literature, and watched as Spaniards lined up in their Sunday best clothing and waited in line to vote, sometimes for hours in the sun. The Civil Guard stood aside, ominously, and that is indeed the appropriate word, as fascism withered on that day. You, who would give up your vote in impotent protest, have no understanding of what your vote means. You have not understood the incredible privilege it is to be able to cast a ballot. In relinquishing that privilege, you abdicate your responsibility as a member of a free society. You have that right, but that is exactly how fascism indeed begins.

You are an idiot! You can at least vote for a green party that pledges to clean up the environment, or you can start your own party, but not voting is a vote for the big three parties...idiot!

The way to 'not' vote is to vote and to use the blank ballot slip available. This vote is 1.counted and 2. you have exercised your right to vote and 3. it indicates dissatisfaction with the choice offered. A BLANK vote is a PROTEST vote- not voting isn't. Mr Shahar you should know better than to give such incorrect guidance.

Shahar is mostly bemoaning the weak influence of his single vote- but that's democracy. The gov't did not do nothing since the last election. It waged a war, provided security, managed the economy, transportation, infrastructure, etc. Sorry for your frustration but that's the real world. By the way, is every last politician as unresponsive as you claim? or, perhaps, some of the good ones, like you, just don't have enough power to make a dent.

I agree entirely with the author, but instead of not voting, I found a party that suits my views. HaYisraelim Party advocates changing the electoral system to one that aims to avoid all of the problems you mentioned. They haven't been very vocal in the campaining, but they have, in my opinion, a worthy platform. Look it up at http://www.haisraelim.org/ they probably won't pass the threshold, but at last you'll know your voice was heard.

this morning on the radio as saying that blank votes are not counted they are merely cast off to the side and so there is no protest in putting in a blank vote! Noel you should know better thank to give such incorrect guidance!

I am shocked and have asked for years, how you people can vote over and over again for the same TRASH. How can you people allow Kadima or Labor to raise their heads again, after repeated failures. Think of ways that "FAILURES" GO HOME- NEVER TO RETURN. Israelis only know how to recycle TRASH & that is what you get TRASH. PERIOD. These so called politicians have no clue what is the Land of Israel & who or what Jews are. If they truly did, the situation today would so different. You people will never be able to destroy the TORAH. Take a number. They have been trying for thousands of years. WE ARE STILL HERE. GO OUT & VOTE. NOT ALL IS TRASH OUT THERE!!!!!

You confess that you voted FOR EVIL. whether it was the least or not is no matter. So, who is more deserving of SHAME? To not vote is to not choose evil so yours is the greater sin. Don't believe me? Read your Bible.

Moral right comes from G-d, not you. I am a citizen of the World, not a gang of thugs who operate only to line their pockets and toot their own horns. I have moral authority because I get it from Torah. Your westernized hellenistic mind has you befuddled. If you don't like my opinion then don't vote for it by reading it or commenting on it. That is your moral right.

With all due respect you are abrogating your duty to try and position a candidate who might put forth your agenda where he or she can do something. Your non-vote is counted as a vote for an opposing ideology.

I agree completely, this system is by far the worst I have encountered. Further changes need to be made and immediately. But by not voting or by "protest" voting you are only adding to the confusion and corruption. Take for example the Pensioners party. They accomplished absolutely nothing. They sucked money from the government and did nothing for anyone. they won big time, then. Now they will probably fall out completely. The point being the best and brightest do not go into politics. The greediest and most power hungry do. All they need to see is that if they don't do as promised they will be voted out next time for someother incompetent group who will be in the same position. Meaning they will lose their "gravely" train. Greed brought them there, we can actually work the greed to our favor. Let them work for their greed. But that involves us working together. That is a whole different story.....

Torah does not permit support either for a government separate (i.e., le-havdil) from Torah or for a government ruled by superstition and calling superstitions Torah (khilul ha-Sheim). This election has demonstrated, yet again (how many times will it take) that qodesh will never mix with khol. Havdalah is commanded and those who profess to follow Torah while mingling with the khol make themselves sanctimonious hypocrites and breachers of Torah. Havdalah from khol, including those who reject or ignore the b'rit Torah and refuse to make teshuvah, is a mitzwah, not a suggestion. Those who think they can claim the promises of Torah based on the sanctimonious hypocrisy of violating this basic mitzwah will continue to be thwarted until they make the unavoidable havdalah. Your grandparents would have sat shiva for them and moved on; and they were right. ha-Sheim and His Torah don't change... ever. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Orthodox Jew (Teimani Baladi Dardai) Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming Jews & non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il