Record 45-Year High in Morning Voter Turnout for Knesset Elections

By אפרת ברינר

Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba

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Hebrew · 12 newsrooms covering

Israel's 26th Knesset elections recorded a 45-year high in morning voter turnout, with 16.68% casting ballots by 10 AM, an increase from the previous election. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich linked the high turnout to specific sectors and advised voters to support parties guaranteed to pass the electoral threshold. The election features over 12,000 polling stations, including accessible options and special arrangements for various groups like the hospitalized, disabled, and inmates.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Voter turnout reached a 45-year high of 16.68% by 10 AM on election day.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attributed high turnout to Arab sector and left-wing strongholds.
Over 12,000 polling stations are operational, including 6,208 accessible to people with disabilities.
Special voting arrangements are in place for hospitalized individuals, prisoners, and evacuees.
Most polling stations are open from 7 AM to 10 PM, with some exceptions for specific locations.

Record 45-Year High in Morning Voter Turnout for Knesset Elections — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israel's 26th Knesset elections saw a record high in morning voter turnout, with 16.68% of eligible voters casting ballots by 10:00 AM. This figure represents a 0.78 percentage point increase compared to the previous election, marking the highest turnout for this time of day in 45 years and indicating robust participation early on election day.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented on the high turnout, attributing it to "unusual participation rates in the Arab sector and in left-wing strongholds." He expressed confidence that parties failing to pass the electoral threshold would not enter the Knesset and urged voters to support only parties guaranteed to pass it, to avoid wasting their votes.

A total of 12,018 regular polling stations were established nationwide, with 6,208 of them accessible to people with disabilities. Among these, 3,620 were special accessible polling stations allowing voting for those not registered there, under specific legal conditions. Additionally, 250 stations were set up in hospitals, 55 in prisons and detention centers, and 102 at Israeli diplomatic missions abroad.

Most polling stations opened at 7:00 AM and will remain open until 10:00 PM. However, smaller communities with up to 350 eligible voters, as well as hospitals, prisons, and some special residential facilities, will have reduced hours from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Voters in line at closing time will still be allowed to cast their ballots.

Eligible voters must be 18 years old by election day and listed in the voter registry. Identification is required, with acceptable documents including an ID card, valid driver's license, valid Israeli passport, or valid military ID. Special provisions are in place for hospitalized individuals, those with disabilities, evacuees, and inmates, utilizing double envelopes to ensure their votes are counted while maintaining secrecy.