Israeli Voter's Guide: Key Details for Election Day

As election day approaches, Israeli voters can find comprehensive information regarding the voting process. Every Israeli citizen aged 18 or older, registered in the population registry, is eligible to vote. A total of 7,331,981 Israelis are eligible to cast ballots for one of 38 lists. This election includes 543,177 new voters, many of whom are young people voting for the first time.

On October 27, 12,018 polling stations will operate nationwide, with most opening from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Smaller communities, hospitals, prisons, and nursing homes will have stations open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Voters who did not receive a notification can check their polling station online via the Ministry of Interior's website or by calling hotlines. While the voter notification speeds up the process, it is not required to vote.

Acceptable forms of identification include a valid Israeli ID card, driver's license, passport, or military ID. Police officers can also use their police ID. Election day is a public holiday, but essential services like public transport, gas stations, restaurants, media, and emergency services will operate. Hospitals will follow a Saturday schedule, and courts will handle urgent matters until noon. Grocery stores can open for up to eight hours between 6:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with deliveries of certain goods permitted until 11:00 AM.

Intercity bus routes over 15 km and train travel will be free from 8:00 PM on October 26 until the end of service on election day. City bus routes will remain paid. Special provisions are in place for those evacuated from their homes due to security concerns, allowing them to vote at their previous residence or designated special polling stations. Accessible polling stations, including those with special access for voters with mobility issues, will be available throughout the country.

Patients in hospitals with at least 50 beds can vote at designated stations within the facility, provided they have written authorization. Similarly, residents of nursing homes with at least 50 individuals with mobility issues can vote at on-site stations. Military personnel can vote at their base or their registered polling station, but voting at both is a criminal offense. Police officers can vote at any station nationwide while off-duty, presenting their police ID. Inmates over 18 can vote at 55 polling stations within prisons and detention centers.

Voting abroad is only permitted for government employees, national institution workers on duty, and their families, with voting having commenced on October 14 at 102 stations in 100 locations. Votes will be counted in Israel. A vote will be invalidated if the envelope contains more than one ballot, or if the ballot is damaged or marked. Observers accredited by the election commission and party representatives will monitor the polls. Double envelopes are used for voters casting ballots outside their registered precinct, with their validity checked to prevent duplicate voting. Vote counting begins at 10:00 PM on election day, with preliminary results released overnight and final results expected after the double envelopes are processed. The Central Election Committee has eight days to publish official results, with the deadline for the upcoming election on October 27 being November 4, 2026. The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10.