Israelis to Vote in Knesset Elections: A Guide to the Procedure

With the Knesset elections just days away, Israelis are set to vote for the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, October 27. The voting process, while familiar to long-term residents, may have some nuances that have been forgotten, and new immigrants are advised to familiarize themselves with the system. According to Ynet, voters will receive an election notice (hodaa le-boher) by mail, which includes personal details, the polling station address, and voter list number. While this notice is recommended, it is not mandatory to vote. Voters can also find their polling station address on the Interior Ministry's website by entering their ID number and date of birth. SMS messages with voting information were also sent out on Thursday, October 22. For assistance, voters can call the Central Elections Committee's hotline at 073-2458358 and press 3 for Russian, or use the Interior Ministry's WhatsApp bot, which provides information in Hebrew. Polling stations, typically located in schools, will have ballot boxes (kalpi) behind screens, with commission members and observers present. Voters enter one by one. Photography near the ballot box is permitted only with a closed envelope and commission approval, while video recording is prohibited. To vote, individuals must present one of three valid Israeli identification documents: Teudat Zehut, a passport (darkon), or a driver's license. After verification, the ballot paper for the chosen party, listed alphabetically by Hebrew letter, is placed in an envelope. It is crucial to select only one ballot to ensure the vote is valid. A white ballot, often misunderstood as a "none of the above" option, is actually for situations where a party's ballots have run out; the party's name and designation are written on it. Polling stations generally operate from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with smaller communities operating from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on election day.