High Court Rejects Bid to Compel Another State Comptroller Vote

The High Court of Justice has rejected a petition asking it to compel Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to set a date for another state comptroller vote. The petition sought implementation of an earlier ruling that annulled the second-round ballot in which Michael Rabello was elected. The court cited the difficulty of implementing that ruling after the election of the 26th Knesset. Justice Ruth Ronen left the question to the speaker chosen by the incoming Knesset if it arises there. She said, "I will not express an opinion." Ohana was ordered to pay 10,000 shekels in legal costs. The dispute began with the comptroller election on June 3, 2026. Neither candidate secured the required majority in the initial round. Rabello won the second round with 61 votes, while retired Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron received 57. In July, the court unanimously found a substantial defect in the secrecy of that ballot and ordered the second round repeated. The court's official summary of the earlier judgment said at least six lawmakers had documented their votes or placed their ballots in envelopes outside the voting booth. It explained that secrecy protects lawmakers' freedom from outside and factional pressure, and that individual members cannot waive secrecy in a way that compromises other members.