Election Day has always been a vacation day in Israel. Specifically the day of national elections, and municipal elections have recently also become a vacation day on a trial basis. The purpose of this is to help voters have an opportunity to vote, so they won't be stuck at work unable to get to the polling place in time. Election Day also has the atmosphere, somewhat, of a national holiday.
The Electoral Board has decided on another perk for voters in the upcoming election on April 9, 2019. In order to make it easier for voters to get to their registered polling places all public transportation on inter-city lines will be free. This includes the train. From 8pm, 20:00, on April 8, until the end of the functioning of public transportation on April, it will all be free - all lines, all rides.
According to Israel Hayom, passengers will be able to get on any inter-city bus without swiping any card. To use the train, passengers will be given a free ticket at the station.
Transportation to and from Eilat will be excluded from this arrangement, except for people who qualify for this specifically. Passengers qualifying for Eilat rides have to register in advance via the number 03-694-8888.
The expected cost to the electoral board for this arrangement will be 3 million shekels, and they are willing to pay this in order to encourage voters who might be far away from their registered polling stations to go vote, so they will not have to bear any expense on their own that might dissuade them from participating.
My guess is that with free transportation to almost anywhere in the country, a good percentage of voters will plan day trips rather than going to vote.
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