IDF Voter Turnout Surges in Latest Knesset Elections

By אפרת ברינר

Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba

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Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

Voter turnout among Israeli soldiers for the 26th Knesset elections reached 48% by 1:00 PM, a 3.6 percentage point increase from the previous elections. This rise in military participation coincides with high national turnout, which hit 31.5% by noon, the highest since 1977. The IDF utilizes military polling stations to enable soldiers to vote while on duty. The votes are counted through a special process for external envelopes.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

IDF voter turnout hit 48% by 1 PM in the 26th Knesset elections.
This marks a 3.6 percentage point increase compared to the previous elections.
National voter turnout reached 31.5% by noon, the highest since 1977.
The IDF provides military polling stations for soldiers to cast their votes.
Votes from military polling stations are counted as external envelopes.

IDF Voter Turnout Surges in Latest Knesset Elections — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Voter turnout among soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the 26th Knesset elections reached 48% by 1:00 PM, an increase from 44.4% at the same time during the previous elections. This represents a 3.6 percentage point rise in participation among military personnel.

The data, released by the IDF, indicates a higher rate of engagement among soldiers compared to the 25th Knesset elections, where turnout stood at 44.4% by 1:00 PM. This uptick in military voting occurs amidst generally high voter turnout across the country.

Nationwide, voter turnout reached 31.5% by 12:00 PM, the highest figure for that time of day since 1977, according to the Central Elections Committee. The IDF facilitates voting for service members through dedicated military polling stations, allowing them to cast ballots while stationed at bases or engaged in military operations.

Votes cast at these military polling stations are counted as part of the external envelope ballot process, which includes measures to prevent duplicate voting and maintain ballot secrecy. Soldiers can vote at these military polling stations, unlike civilians who typically vote at polling stations assigned to their place of residence.