Israeli Parties Sign Surplus Vote Pacts to Maximize Knesset Seats

Several Israeli political blocs have signed "surplus vote agreements" ahead of the upcoming October 27th elections, aiming to prevent wasted votes and maximize their representation in the Knesset. The "Change Bloc" announced two such agreements: Naftali Bennett's "Yachad" party will partner with Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu," while Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" will team up with Yair Golan's "HaDemocratim."

The surplus vote system allows two parties that sign an agreement to pool their remaining votes after the initial seat allocation and divide any leftover Knesset seats between them. This method, introduced in 1973, ensures that votes cast for smaller parties within a bloc are not lost if they fall short of the threshold for an individual seat. Both parties must pass the electoral threshold for the agreement to be valid.

While larger parties typically benefit more from these agreements by securing the additional seat, smaller parties can also gain. In 2021, Meretz received an extra seat through its surplus vote agreement with the Labor Party, demonstrating the potential advantage for smaller partners. The "Yashar" party stated that these agreements ensure "every vote from Israelis seeking change... will go to one of the change parties and prevent the loss of votes."

Looking ahead, it is anticipated that the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, will sign a surplus vote agreement, as will Arab parties. The Likud party is also expected to form an agreement with the Religious Zionism party, potentially leaving Otzma Yehudit to partner with Am Israel.