The Knesset’s legal adviser Sagit Afik issued a legal opinion Thursday night rejecting a call for lawmakers to be required to hold a new election for the post of state comptroller, after issues arose over Likud members taking pictures and videos of ballots they cast for Wednesday’s eventual winner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer, Michael Rabello.

The election, conducted by secret ballot as required by law, descended into chaos after Rabello’s competitor, retired Supreme Court justice Yosef Elron, came out ahead in the first round, falling just one vote short of the 61 votes needed for victory in the 120-member parliament, meaning that several coalition lawmakers had voted for Elron, defying pressure to vote for Rabello.

Under the State Comptroller Law, because neither candidate secured the support of 61 MKs in the first round, a second ballot was held, after which the candidate who garnered the most votes would win, even without getting 61 votes.

However, the vote was plunged into chaos and halted amid reports that Likud MKs had been ordered to photograph or film their votes to prove they had voted for Rabello.

Amid complaints from opposition lawmakers, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana paused the voting process to hold a consultation in his office.

Afterward, he decided to restart the second round, while reminding MKs that the ballot was supposed to be secret; however, he did not ban phones in the voting booth, as Afik — who was on a plane when the chaotic vote........

© The Times of Israel