Sohlberg ruling to stop announcing voters' names 'restores respect,' says former deputy A-G

Former deputy attorney-general Mike Blass stated that Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg's ruling, which prohibits election observers from announcing voters' names, restores privacy and prevents the disclosure of sensitive information. In an interview with 103FM, Blass explained that the ruling followed a comprehensive hearing involving the Privacy Protection Authority and the attorney-general, concluding that the practice infringed on voters' privacy. He noted that using voter details for purposes other than voting, such as encouraging others, constituted a privacy violation. Blass added that the ruling also protects voters at sensitive polling locations, like facilities for people with disabilities or shelters, where reporting a vote could reveal additional personal information. He concluded that the ruling "restores respect" for voters' privacy and clarifies the limits of observers' authority, especially given changes in Israel's privacy laws since he himself engaged in the practice decades ago.