Israel records highest election turnout in more than 50 years
Photo: An election billboard featuring Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz (Getty Images)
By noon, 31.5% of voters had cast their ballots in Israel’s elections, marking the highest turnout for that time of day since 1973. Due to long queues, polling stations may remain open longer, The Times of Israel reports.
According to the Central Elections Committee, the current turnout has exceeded that of the previous election. In 2022, 28.4% of voters had cast their ballots by noon. This time, 31.5% had voted by the same time.
Turnout at this level had not been recorded at this time of day since 1973, when Israel held its first election after the Yom Kippur War.
What is happening at polling stations
Dean Livne, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, said queues had formed at many polling stations. According to him, this is to be expected when voter turnout is high.
"At many polling stations, there are lines. When you reach a high voter turnout, there will always be lines," Livne said.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 am local time and are scheduled to close at 10:00 pm. However, the Central Elections Committee explained that this does not mean voting automatically ends at that time for people who have already arrived at a polling station but are still waiting in line.
According to Livne, if there are still people who have not voted at 10:00 pm, polling stations will remain open until they have cast their ballots. This applies to voters who arrived before the official closing time.
"We promise, everyone will vote. If there is a line at 10 p.m., the polling stations will continue to operate until everyone who arrived by 10 p.m. has voted. There is no need to worry," the Central Elections Committee representative emphasized.
Ahead of the election in Israel, a united opposition led by Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and other political forces came out against incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to experts, opposition parties pledge greater support for Ukraine than the current ruling coalition. If they win, Kyiv could expect more active dialogue on countering Iran, an exchange of experience in combating drones, and improved relations between Israel and the European Union.
