Hadash is very concerned over indifference, or systematic frustration, which seems to keep the country’s Arab voters away from the polls on Election Day. Hadash activists will use the next two days, and Election Day itself, to try and incite the Arab voters to go out and vote. These activists will attempt to warn the voters that every vote they don’t cast is registered as a vote for right-wing Zionist parties.

The fear of low voter turnout is exemplified in a special poll published on a local Arabic radio station, Radio A-Shams, which broadcasts from Nazareth, and has been attempting to galvanize the Arab community to vote in the upcoming election. The poll, conducted by the “Stat-Net Institute,” questioned 463 eligible voters, representing a cross-section of the population, and reflecting the proper ethnic proportions. According to the poll, the turnout among Arab voters stands at 48 percent.

Candidateon the list of Hadash to the Knesset, Nabila Espanioly, and activists in Nazareth (Photo: Hadash)

The fear of such a low turnout has prompted local organizations and social groups to launch various initiatives aimed at getting the Arab population to vote. In addition, the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, which has coordinated all of the political movements within the Arab community, has also made calls for Arab citizens to vote for one of the three parties.

Hadash chairman, MK Mohammed Barakeh told “Haaretz” that internal polls conducted by the front reveal slightly higher voter turnout percentages, showing about 55 percent. That is no reason to get complacent, according to Barakeh. Hadash is still working out in the field, going door to door to rouse the people to vote, and to tell them that there is no room for indifference to the election. “I don’t consider it indifference, I consider it systematic frustration that the establishment creates in order to distance the Arab community from positions of influence. We are fighting against that system, and believe it or not, during this election, a high voter turnout within the Arab community could be decisive in terms of the bigger picture,” said MK Barakeh.