Israel's Election Machine: 450 Million Ballots and 100,000 Workers

By דסק C14

Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba

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Hebrew · 13 newsrooms covering

Israel's election for the 26th Knesset involves over 7.3 million voters and a massive logistical effort. Approximately 450 million ballots were printed, requiring 250 tons of paper, to supply 12,018 polling stations. The election day operation will utilize around 100,000 workers and 15,000 cameras, with a budget of nearly 690 million shekels.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Over 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote in the 26th Knesset elections.
Approximately 450 million ballots were printed for the elections, over 61 per voter.
The election operation will involve around 100,000 workers nationwide.
The Central Elections Committee's budget for the elections is nearly 690 million shekels.
The elections are overseen by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg.

Israel's Election Machine: 450 Million Ballots and 100,000 Workers — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israel's 26th Knesset elections involve a massive logistical operation, with over 7.3 million eligible voters casting ballots. The Central Elections Committee printed approximately 450 million ballot papers, equating to over 61 ballots per voter, to ensure sufficient supply at all 12,018 polling stations nationwide. This extensive printing required about 250 tons of paper, with over 400 tons expected to be recycled post-election.

The ballots were produced at the Ordya factory in Kiryat Gat, which operated at an increased capacity. Each of the competing lists received around 11.5 million ballots. The election day operation will employ approximately 100,000 workers, a significant increase from the usual staff, with about 50,000 undergoing training. The election oversight will utilize around 15,000 cameras, and thousands of accessible polling stations are being set up to accommodate voters with disabilities.

The Central Elections Committee's budget for 2026 is approximately 690 million shekels, with about 593 million allocated for conducting the elections and 97 million for the committee's ongoing operations. The entire election process is overseen by the Central Elections Committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg.