Thousands of Israelis Abroad Returning Home to Vote in Crucial Election
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are returning to vote in the October 27 parliamentary elections, a trend discussed at a "People of the Country" conference. Experts linked this heightened engagement to the events of October 7, 2023, and the perceived significance of the current election. The discussion also covered the debate over allowing remote voting for Israelis overseas and the potential impact of these voters on the election's close outcome, with some suggesting liberal-leaning voters may be overrepresented among those returning.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Tens of thousands of Israelis abroad are returning to vote in the October 27 parliamentary elections.
- The events of October 7, 2023, have significantly increased Israelis' sense of involvement with their homeland.
- Experts debated whether Israelis living abroad should be allowed to vote remotely instead of returning to Israel.
- The Israel Democracy Institute suggested differentiating between permanent and temporary residents abroad regarding voting rights.
- Returning voters from abroad could significantly influence the election's outcome due to a close race.
- Some analysts believe liberal-leaning voters are prominent among those returning to vote.
Tens of thousands of Israeli citizens living abroad are planning to fly back to Israel to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 27. This significant turnout from the diaspora was a key topic at the "People of the Country" conference, organized by Ynet and "Yediot Ahronot." Experts discussed the heightened interest among Israelis overseas, the debate over allowing remote voting, and the potential impact of these returning voters on the election results.
Yonatan Bar-Sade, president of FLY & VOTE, stated that Israelis abroad maintain a strong connection to their homeland, citing the immediate return of reservists after October 7, 2023. He noted that a recent poll indicated 84% of Israelis abroad consider the upcoming election "critically important," reflecting the general mood within Israeli society.
Yaron Dekel, a political commentator, attributed the increased desire to vote in person to the events of October 7, which he said "sharply heightened the sense of involvement" for Israelis abroad, regardless of how long they have lived overseas. He described the current election as "exceptionally significant," particularly as the first since the October 7 attacks, involving the most right-wing government in Israel's history and a long-serving prime minister who is a divisive figure.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the current voting system and the possibility of allowing Israelis abroad to vote remotely. Bar-Sade argued for modernizing the system, stating that many Israelis abroad are not permanent emigrants but temporary residents. Yohanan Plesner of the Israel Democracy Institute proposed differentiating between Israelis who have permanently relocated their lives abroad and those temporarily overseas for studies or work. He noted Israel's strict voting location requirements are among the most extreme globally.
Dekel agreed that Israel lags technologically in voting methods, while Plesner suggested solutions exist to allow those abroad to vote. The debate also touched on potential legislative changes, with Dekel emphasizing the need for broad political consensus. Plesner recalled past attempts to change the system, including by former Knesset Member Shulamit Aloni and a coalition agreement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2015, noting that the issue has historically been politically charged.
Regarding the potential electoral impact, Dekel suggested that while diaspora voting preferences often mirror those within Israel, the current election might see a surge in liberal-leaning voters returning, potentially concerning for the Likud party. He highlighted that with a close race, even a small number of additional mandates could be decisive in forming the next government, making the tens of thousands of returning voters a significant factor.
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