Israeli Election Day Costs Estimated at $3.5 Billion, With Lost Productivity as Main Driver
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Israel's election day for the 26th Knesset cost an estimated 3.5 billion shekels, primarily due to a 2.54 billion shekel loss in economic productivity from the national holiday. The Central Elections Committee budget is 690 million shekels, with parties receiving around 250 million shekels in funding. Unlike most OECD nations, Israel and South Korea provide a mid-week election day holiday, which the Israel Democracy Institute deems beneficial for civic participation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's election day cost an estimated 3.5 billion shekels, with lost productivity being the main expense.
- The national holiday declared for election day resulted in an economic loss of 2.54 billion shekels.
- The Central Elections Committee's budget for the election is 690 million shekels.
- Political parties are expected to receive approximately 250 million shekels in state funding.
- Only Israel and South Korea among OECD nations offer a mid-week election day holiday.
The cost of Israel's 26th Knesset elections, held on a Tuesday, is estimated at approximately 3.5 billion shekels (about $950 million USD). The largest portion of this expense is not direct government spending but rather lost economic output due to the national holiday declared for election day.
The Central Elections Committee's budget for the election is 690 million shekels, covering operational costs such as printing 450 million ballots and employing around 100,000 workers. Additionally, political parties are set to receive about a quarter of a billion shekels in state funding, calculated based on the number of mandates they secure. The funding unit per mandate was recently increased by 12% to 1.835 million shekels. Parties that do not pass the electoral threshold risk forfeiting their bank guarantees.
The most significant financial impact, however, stems from the "day of rest" (shabaton) declared for election day. Researchers estimate the economic loss from this holiday to be 2.54 billion shekels, a substantial increase from the 1.69 billion shekels lost in the 2022 elections. This includes approximately 1.67 billion shekels in losses from the business sector and 865 million shekels from the public sector. Employees typically receive their regular pay for the day off, while those required to work are entitled to double pay or an alternative day off.
Internationally, Israel stands out among OECD countries for its election day holiday. Out of 38 OECD nations, 29 hold elections on weekends, eliminating the need for a day off. Among the nine countries that vote mid-week, only Israel and South Korea provide a full day off for their citizens to vote. Despite the economic cost, the Israel Democracy Institute emphasizes that the holiday's civic and democratic contributions justify its continuation.
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