Election Chief Sohlberg Bars Satmar-Linked Fund From Paying Voters to Abstain

Justice Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, issued an interim order on Friday morning barring the Shekel HaTahor association, which is linked to the Satmar Hasidic movement, from giving, offering or promising voters money to influence them not to vote. The order followed a petition by the Movement for Quality Government, which alleged that the association had begun paying $200 grants to Hasidim who declare they will not vote. Sohlberg found that the evidence raised a serious concern of a violation reaching the root of election law, which bars bribing a voter to vote or to abstain. The order remains in force until further notice.