Election Night Results Delayed by Hundreds of Thousands of "Double Envelopes"

Election night results in Israel will present an incomplete picture as approximately 650,000 "double envelopes" containing votes will not be counted alongside regular ballots. These votes are equivalent to about 14 Knesset seats and could prove decisive in a close election, potentially impacting the electoral threshold and the final distribution of seats between political blocs.

While the counting of regular ballots begins immediately after polls close, the "double envelopes" require an initial verification process. This involves checking that the voter is not registered at the polling station where they cast their ballot. The upcoming election is expected to see a record number of these envelopes, leading to a delay in obtaining the final results.

Consequently, initial exit polls and preliminary results released on election night will not reflect the definitive seat allocation. Parties nearing the electoral threshold of 3.25% of the vote will face uncertainty until the delayed count is completed. The article also briefly mentions a political dispute between the Ra'am party and a candidate named Abu Shhadeh, and notes that Prime Minister Netanyahu is still seeking a majority for a right-wing government, three years after the October 7th attack. It also suggests that a party led by a figure named Vinter could significantly alter the political map if it fails to cross the electoral threshold, while opposition parties are reportedly planning for a post-election scenario focused on ousting Netanyahu.