FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2020
Media Contact
Sarah Garfinkel, West End Strategy Team
sgarfinkel@westendstrategy.com; 202-776-7722
Over 50,000 Votes Cast So Far in U.S. Election to the World Zionist Congress
Voting ends on March 11, all American Jews over 18 eligible to vote
NEW YORK – Since voting opened last month, over 50,000 votes have been cast in the U.S. election to the World Zionist Congress, the outcome of which determines U.S. representation to the only elected body that represents Jewish people worldwide.
Voting for the U.S. representatives to the World Zionist Congress, the “parliament of the Jewish people,” continues through March 11, primarily online at ZionistElection.org. A total of 15 slates comprised of nearly 1,800 candidates will vie for 152 American seats for the Congress during the election, which is organized and facilitated in the U.S. by the American Zionist Movement (AZM).
This election is attracting more candidates and votes than the last race in 2015. Voting is on track to exceed total vote counts by the end of this week, showing a 215% increase overall. The candidates are also increasingly diverse, with a 64 percent increase in the number of candidates who identify as women, and more younger candidates than ever, with one third age 35 and under.
Visit ZionistElection.org to view each slate’s platform and candidates.
“We are thrilled by the high level of engagement we’ve seen so far in the 2020 election of U.S. delegates to the World Zionist Congress. American Jews are truly excited to be part of this historic moment and play a role in determining the future of Israel and the Jewish people worldwide,” said Herbert Block, Executive Director of the American Zionist Movement. “American Jews understand that they have the potential to have a significant influence in Israel and the Diaspora through this election and they are turning out the vote because of it.”
The 15 slates running in the 2020 US election to the World Zionist Congress are, in ballot order:
- Eretz Hakodesh: Protecting the Kedusha and Mesorah of Eretz Yisrael
- Vote Reform: ARZA Representing the Reform Movement and Reconstructing Judaism
- Israel Shelanu (Our Israel)
- Orthodox Israel Coalition – Mizrachi: Vote Torah
- Vision: Empowering the Next Generation
- MERCAZ USA: The Voice of Conservative/Masorti Judaism
- Dorshei Torah V’Tziyon: Torah and Israel for All
- Hatikvah: Progressive Israel Slate
- Ohavei Zion: World Sephardic Zionist Organization
- Herut Zionists: The Jabotinsky Movement
- ZOA Coalition: Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Torah from Sinai, MIG (Make Israel Great) & National Pro-Israel Partners – Courageously Defending Israel, Sovereignty & the Jewish People
- American Forum for Israel
- Americans4Israel: Unity, Peace & Security
- Kol Yisrael: For the Love of Israel: Making Zionism Compelling in the 21st Century
- Shas Olami
Visit ZionistElection.org to learn more and vote today.
To be eligible to vote in the US election for the 38th World Zionist Congress, voters must:
- Be 18 years of age or above
- Be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States
- Be Jewish
- Not vote or plan to vote in the March 2 Knesset election
- Affirm their commitment to the Jerusalem Program
Registration and voting will remain open until March 11 at ZionistElection.org. The fee to register and vote is $7.50, or $5 for those 18-25, which goes to cover the administrative costs of the election.
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About the American Zionist Movement (AZM)
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) is comprised of 33 national Jewish Zionist organizations and works across a broad ideological, political and religious spectrum linking the American Jewish community together in support of Israel, Zionism
