Your Guide to Election Day: Voting Hours, ID, and Ballot Rules

Israelis are heading to the polls today, October 27, 2026, for the 26th Knesset elections. Polling stations are open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with smaller communities operating from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. All Israeli citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote, with 36 parties competing for seats in the next Knesset. The Central Elections Committee reports that 7,331,981 citizens are eligible to vote, an increase of 543,177 since the previous election. Voters will cast their ballots at 12,018 regular polling stations, as well as special locations like hospitals and prisons.

To find your designated polling station, you can use the Interior Ministry's "Election Information" website by entering your ID number and birth date. The Central Elections Committee also provides assistance via phone and SMS/WhatsApp services. It is not necessary to bring the "Voter's Notice" to the polling station; only a valid identification document is required, such as an ID card, driver's license, passport, or valid military or police ID.

To ensure your vote is counted, use the official ballot paper for your chosen party without any additional markings or writing, as these can invalidate your ballot. If a blank ballot is provided, write the party's letters or name in blue ink. Submitting multiple ballots or ballots from different parties in the same envelope will also lead to disqualification. Personal markings that could identify the voter will invalidate the vote.

Special provisions are in place for voters with disabilities, with approximately 6,208 accessible polling stations equipped for those with mobility issues. An additional 3,620 special accessible polling stations will be available nationwide. Voters displaced due to the ongoing security situation can vote at designated stations for evacuees or at any accessible polling station. These stations will operate from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Election Day is a public holiday, meaning most employees are entitled to a day off without pay deduction, though this does not apply to essential public service workers. For those working in these sectors, employers must allow time off to vote. Public transportation, including intercity buses (over 15 km) and Israel Railways, is free from 8:00 PM on October 26th until the end of service on election day, October 27th. Municipal bus lines will still require payment. Vote counting begins immediately after polls close at 10:00 PM, with preliminary results expected overnight. The Central Elections Committee has eight days to publish the official results, with the deadline set for November 4, 2026.