Rights9/29/2026

Only Half of Polling Stations in Israel Are Accessible to People With Disabilities

In the upcoming elections, only about half of the polling stations will be located in accessible buildings. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis with mobility disabilities may need to look for a special accessible polling station or seek help from volunteers.

Key facts

•About 50% of polling stations are accessible
•186 nursing homes agreed to open polling stations
•The previous arrangement assisted about 30,000 elderly people
•About 5,200 volunteers registered with the escort initiative
•The obligation to make public buildings accessible has existed for about 20 years

Why the Problem Arose

Polling stations are set up in existing public buildings. According to the Central Elections Committee, new buildings generally meet modern accessibility requirements, but suitable buildings are not available everywhere. The war has further complicated the situation: several public buildings where polling stations were planned were damaged.

Polling Stations in Nursing Homes

A temporary arrangement introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed special polling stations to open in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, making it easier for about 30,000 elderly people to vote. The Knesset Constitution Committee decided not to extend it. After a petition was filed with the High Court of Justice, the Central Elections Committee contacted the institutions, and 186 nursing homes agreed to host polling stations, but there will be fewer of them than during the previous arrangement.

Volunteer Assistance

The civil initiative “Election Escorts” connects elderly people and people with mobility disabilities with volunteers willing to drive them to polling stations. About 5,200 volunteers have registered with the initiative, the vast majority of them with vehicles; some have wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The initiative focuses mainly on people who do not live in nursing homes or designated institutions.

What the Accessibility Rules Provide

A voter whose assigned polling station is not accessible may use the nearest special accessible polling station. A representative of the organization “Access Israel” noted that the obligation to make public buildings accessible has been enshrined in law for 20 years, but making half of polling stations accessible is insufficient. The Central Elections Committee also stated that it is working to make information more conveniently accessible and to train staff regarding the admission of service dogs and the use of certificates granting exemptions from waiting in line, including for people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

What this means for you

A person with a mobility disability may need to check in advance whether their assigned polling station is accessible and locate the nearest special accessible polling station. If they have difficulty reaching it independently, the civil initiative offers accompaniment and transportation, but this is volunteer assistance and not a full substitute for a state accessibility system.

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