Nearly 620,000 Young Israelis to Vote for First Time

Approximately 618,839 young Israelis who have turned 18 since the last election in November 2022 are eligible to vote for the first time in the upcoming Knesset elections. These new voters constitute about 8.4% of the total 7,331,981 eligible voters. The large number is attributed to the fact that the 25th Knesset completed its full term, resulting in nearly four years between elections, the first time this has happened since 1988.

Analysis by the data firm Points reveals significant variations in the proportion of new voters across different sectors. In the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, new voters represent approximately 16% of eligible voters, nearly double the national average. The Arab community has the largest number of new voters, with around 118,000, making up about 10.6% of eligible voters. In the religious Zionist sector, new voters constitute about 12%.

Among major cities, Jerusalem is expected to have the highest number of new voters, around 60,000. In the city of Elad, new voters comprise about a quarter of the eligible voting population.

In addition to young voters, over 130,000 new immigrants from former Soviet Union countries who arrived in Israel since 2022 are also eligible to vote for the first time. According to research from the Israel Democracy Institute, about a third of these new immigrants have not yet decided whom to vote for, a rate double that of veteran immigrants. Approximately 31% of them support right-wing parties, compared to 59% among veteran immigrants.

These new voters are considered a significant unknown factor in the election, as their voting patterns differ from previous elections and many are still undecided. Due to their substantial numbers, even a small shift in their voting turnout could impact the distribution of Knesset seats and influence the balance between political blocs.