Israelis Spend Over Quarter Billion Shekels on Election Day
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israelis spent NIS 250.78 million on election day between 8 AM and 11 AM, a 26.5% increase from the previous national election in 2022. The peak spending minute saw over 11,300 transactions totaling NIS 2.39 million. While morning spending exceeded previous elections, it fell short of projections. Total spending for the day could reach NIS 1.7 billion if the morning growth rate continues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israelis spent NIS 250.78 million on election day in the first three hours.
- Spending increased by 26.5% compared to the same period in the 2022 election.
- The peak spending minute occurred at 10:57 AM with NIS 2.39 million in transactions.
- Morning spending was 9% lower than a projected NIS 275 million.
- Total spending could reach NIS 1.7 billion if the morning growth rate holds.
Israelis spent over 250 million shekels using debit cards in the first three hours after polling stations opened on election day, October 27, 2026. Between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, consumers spent NIS 250.78 million, a 26.5% increase compared to the same period during the November 2022 elections, when spending reached NIS 198.31 million. This represents an additional NIS 52.5 million spent in the initial hours compared to the previous election.
Spending also rose by 10.6% compared to the local authority elections in 2024, which saw NIS 226.81 million spent in the equivalent timeframe. The peak transaction minute occurred at 10:57 AM, with over 11,300 transactions totaling NIS 2.39 million processed through the national payment system, Sheba.
While the morning's growth rate was 26.5%, the actual spending was about NIS 25 million, or 9%, lower than a projected NIS 275 million based on that growth rate. However, the article notes that three hours of shopping are insufficient to predict the day's total. If the 26.5% growth rate were maintained throughout the entire day, total spending could reach approximately NIS 1.7 billion, though this is a hypothetical scenario as spending patterns often shift throughout the day, with afternoon and evening hours typically seeing higher activity.
