American Jews will have a larger selection of candidates and slates for the upcoming World Zionist Congress election, the American Zionist Movement (AZM) has announced.
The March vote for the 152 US representatives in the congress, who make up about a third of the body, will have 2,900 candidates from 22 slates. The number of candidates increased by 60% from the 2020 election, and the 22 slates represent a 69% increase from the previous election’s 13 slates.
The slates represent a variety of different ideological, political, cultural, and religious American Zionist beliefs and movements. The candidates reportedly hail from 43 US states and territories.
The elected American delegates, who will represent almost one-third of the body, will decide at the 39th WZC – to be held in Jerusalem in October – the allocation of over $1 billion in funding and the leadership and priorities of key global Zionist institutions, including the World Zionist Organization, the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, The Jewish Agency for Israel, and United Israel Appeal.
“By electing representatives who directly promote the interests of the US Jewish community, American Zionist voters are poised to seize their most tangible opportunity to be heard on issues that will shape our collective future as a Jewish people,” American Zionist Movement executive director Herbert Block said. “This is your vote for Israel’s future.
“Simultaneously, this election is American Jewry’s chance to unmistakably affirm our support for Zionism. It is imperative that we take this stand now more than ever following the horrors of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing war.”
When will US-based World Zionist Congress elections take place?
US WZC elections will be held from March 10 until May 4. To vote, one must be Jewish, 18 years or older by June 30, a US citizen or legal resident with a primary residence in that country, ascribe to the Zionist movement platform, and not have voted in a recent Knesset election. Voters will also need to pay a $5 registration and voting fee to cover operating costs.
Block, whose AZM administers the election, said, “The larger the voter turnout is, the more the American Jewish voice is heard.”