Record Turnout for Israelis Abroad in Early Election Voting
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Early voting for Israelis abroad concluded Friday with a record 86.7% turnout, significantly higher than the 69.6% in November 2022. The voting occurred across 99 diplomatic missions worldwide over thirty hours. The high participation is an early indicator of interest in the October 27 legislative elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 86.7% of eligible Israelis abroad voted early, a record high.
- This turnout is 17.1 points higher than the 69.6% in November 2022.
- Voting took place in 99 Israeli diplomatic missions globally.
- The early voting process spanned approximately thirty hours.
- The largest polling station was the Israeli consulate in New York.
With eleven days remaining until Israel's legislative elections on October 27, early voting for expatriate citizens concluded Friday morning, showing a significant surge in participation. Official figures indicate that 4,218 out of 4,863 registered voters cast their ballots, resulting in an 86.7% turnout. This figure marks a substantial increase of 17.1 percentage points compared to the November 2022 elections, when the turnout was 69.6%.
The early voting process took place across 101 polling stations in 99 Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide. The electorate primarily consisted of diplomats, government officials stationed abroad, representatives from various ministries, and their eligible family members. Voting commenced in Wellington, New Zealand, and proceeded westward, following time zones, with the final polls closing in Los Angeles and San Francisco on the U.S. West Coast. The entire electoral operation spanned approximately thirty hours.
The largest polling station was located at the Israeli consulate in New York, which had over 700 registered voters. This high level of engagement among Israelis abroad is seen as an initial indicator of interest in the upcoming legislative elections, though it does not necessarily predict the national turnout rate expected on October 27.
