Perach Israel village sets up voting practice for 200 residents

More than 200 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at a Perach Israel rehabilitation village are rehearsing how to cast ballots at a mock polling station set up ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 Knesset election.

The setup includes a voting booth, envelopes and ballot slips. Staff walk residents through the steps they would take at an official polling station: selecting a ballot and placing it in an envelope.

Perach Israel CEO Moshe Stein said the village treats decision-making as part of its rehabilitation work. "The right to choose is part of everyday life in our village," Stein said. "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."

Stein added: "The ability to make their own decisions plays a significant role in their quality of life." The village houses more than 200 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The practice sessions run ahead of the Oct. 27 vote, in which millions of Israelis will elect representatives to the next Knesset. Staff have guided residents through the steps they would take at an official polling station, explaining their right to vote and helping them select a ballot and place it in an envelope as they would at a real polling station.