Labor has decided to stay with its planned computerized primary despite problems Likud faced on Sunday and requests from activists and candidates to have a low-tech vote.
“We’re keeping an eye on what is happening in Likud, but we’re okay; the problems haven’t reached us yet,” said Labor election staff chairman Amir Koren.
The Labor primary is set for Thursday.
Koren added that, contrary to a statement released by Labor earlier this month, the two parties are not using the same company to computerize their primaries.
“We are checking the problems in Likud to learn lessons. If we reach the conclusion that the same elements are problematic, then we’ll make a change,” he stated.
Earlier Sunday, two Labor primary candidates called on the party to hold a paper vote, rather than an electronic one.
“The experience of Likud shows us that we must be prepared and go back to the old system of voting so this farce will not repeat itself on Thursday,” primary candidate David Drumlevitz wrote to the Labor election committee.
Patchi Amara, who is running for a spot on the Labor list, wrote to the party’s Secretary- General Hilik Bar to request a return to the old system.
“The problems with the electronic system, as revealed today, in addition to bad experiences with computer systems in the Labor Party that already led to the cancellation of past primaries, requires us to go back to manual elections,” he stated.
Amara expressed concern that computer problems in the center will be fixed quickly, while in Arab villages it will take much longer to do so and many will lose their democratic right to vote.