Ahead of Tuesday's election, more than 200 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at a Perach Israel village are learning about their right to vote and practicing how to cast their ballots.
As millions of Israelis prepare to head to the polls, residents of a Perach Israel-operated rehabilitation village are getting ready for Election Day with a special initiative to help them exercise one of their most fundamental democratic rights.
The village, home to more than 200 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has set up a mock polling station, complete with a voting booth, envelopes, and ballot slips, allowing residents to familiarize themselves with the voting process ahead of the October 27 Knesset election.
Staff members are guiding residents through the process, explaining their right to vote and helping them practice selecting a ballot and placing it in an envelope, as they would at an official polling station.
Right to choose is important element of rehabilitation village
"The right to choose is part of everyday life in our village," said Moshe Stein, CEO of Perach Israel.
"We work to teach our residents the importance of making their own choices, from deciding what color clothes to wear to choosing how to spend their free time. The ability to make their own decisions plays a significant role in their quality of life."
For residents, the exercise offers a chance to learn the practical aspects of voting in a familiar environment, ahead of an election in which millions of Israelis will choose their representatives in the next Knesset.
With Election Day just around the corner, the practice sessions are helping ensure that residents who are eligible to vote have the opportunity to make their voices heard alongside the rest of the country.