Israel's Election Day and the Path to Forming a Government

Israeli citizens are set to vote in the 26th Knesset elections on Tuesday, October 27. Polls will close at 10:00 PM, with initial exit polls expected to be released by various television channels. The official election results are anticipated by November 4, but the crucial question of who will successfully form a government will remain. Following the results, the President of Israel, Yitzhak Herzog, will begin consultations with faction representatives. He will then task one of the Knesset members with forming the government. According to law, this process must conclude within seven days of the results' publication, by November 11. The President is not obligated to choose the leader of the largest party but rather a Knesset member who agrees to undertake the task. The first candidate will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension from the President. If this attempt fails, the President can assign the task to another Knesset member for an additional 28 days without extension. Should the second attempt also fail, at least 61 Knesset members can request the President to assign the task to a mutually agreed-upon candidate for 14 days. If this final step fails, the Knesset will dissolve, triggering new elections. Once a candidate successfully forms a government, they will notify the President and the Knesset Speaker, who will schedule a session within seven days. During this session, the candidate will present the government's composition and platform and seek a vote of confidence. The government officially begins its term only after receiving the Knesset's confidence; until then, the outgoing government will continue to serve as a caretaker administration.