Record Voter Turnout in Israeli Elections Exceeds 3 Million

Israel's 26th Knesset elections are witnessing record-breaking voter turnout, with over 3.3 million citizens casting their ballots by 2 PM on Tuesday. This marks the highest turnout at this hour since 1973, according to the Central Elections Committee. The committee's acting Director General, Dean Livna, announced the figures, stating, "We have crossed all records." The current turnout is six percentage points higher than the 38.9% recorded at the same time in the November 2022 elections.

Long queues were reported at polling stations across the country, prompting the Elections Committee to issue guidelines to expedite the voting process. These include allowing poll secretaries to begin identifying the next voter while the previous one is behind the curtain. The committee assured that anyone arriving by 10 PM would be allowed to vote, even if they had to wait past closing time.

Amidst the high participation, concern has emerged from Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties. Aryeh Deri, chairman of Shas, expressed worry about voter apathy in Haredi and right-wing strongholds, contrasting it with high turnout reported in areas supporting opposition parties and the Arab community. He noted a sense of complacency among some Haredi party supporters.

Legally, an interim order was issued by the Central Elections Committee Chairman, Judge Noam Sohlberg, prohibiting the Yahadut HaTorah party and its representatives from transmitting real-time voter count reports. This followed a petition by the Movement for Quality of Government, alleging the party was attempting to circumvent a High Court ruling against transmitting such data from polling committees to parties.

Isolated incidents were also reported. The Haredi Public party claimed its activists were attacked and information booths vandalized in Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, and Beitar Illit, with complaints filed to the police and the Elections Committee. In Tel Aviv, a young man carrying a knife was arrested near Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, though police clarified no threat was made. Other incidents included a burned election sign for Gadi Eisenkot's party in Dimona and a man tearing down signs and threatening a female activist in Tiberias, with police complaints filed in both cases.

National turnout data will continue to be released every two hours until 11 PM. Most polling stations close at 10 PM, after which television exit polls will be released and vote counting will commence. Initial results are expected overnight, with the final seat allocation to be determined after all votes, including double envelopes, are counted.