Jerusalem, 28 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — One hundred Israelis living abroad petitioned the High Court of Justice on Thursday against the Interior Ministry, challenging a procedure that removed them from the voter registry for the 26th Knesset election.
The petitioners say they were assigned “Code 51,” meaning they were no longer considered Israeli residents, without being notified. The status can be applied to citizens who have lived abroad for years or whose main ties are considered to be outside Israel. Those classified under Code 51 are automatically removed from the voter registry and cannot vote in Israeli elections.
The petitioners say they maintain “strong and lasting ties” to Israel through military service, family, property and tax payments, and never asked to lose their residency.
They are seeking an injunction blocking such removals and want the government to disclose the legal and administrative criteria behind the procedure.
According to the Central Elections Committee, 396 citizens lost residency between 2018 and 2026.