Israeli Elections See Record Turnout Amid Calls to Extend Voting Hours
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Israeli elections on Tuesday saw record turnout, reaching 55.7% by 4 p.m., prompting Likud and Shas parties to request extended voting hours due to heavy crowds. The Central Elections Committee denied receiving an official request and plans to keep polls open until 10 p.m., assuring all voters in line by then will cast their ballots. New instructions were issued to speed up voting processes at polling stations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli elections saw record turnout of 55.7% by 4 p.m., exceeding previous elections.
- Likud and Shas parties requested an extension of voting hours due to heavy crowds.
- The Central Elections Committee stated it has not received an official request for an extension.
- The committee will maintain the 10 p.m. closing time but will allow all voters in line by then to vote.
- New instructions were issued to expedite the voting process at polling stations.
On Tuesday, the Likud and Shas parties requested an extension of voting hours in the Israeli elections due to unusually heavy crowds and long lines at polling stations. Voter turnout reached 55.7% by 4 p.m., significantly higher than the 47.5% recorded at the same time during the previous elections. Likud sources indicated the party formally requested an additional hour of voting, with Shas joining the demand, citing "exceptional crowding" to prevent voters from being disenfranchised. However, the Central Elections Committee stated it had not received an official request from Likud and was unaware of it through media channels. The committee affirmed its current intention to maintain the scheduled 10 p.m. closing time, clarifying that any voter in line before 10 p.m. would be allowed to cast their ballot. The 55.7% turnout by 4 p.m. marked the highest recorded for that time since data collection began, an increase of 8.2 percentage points from the previous election. Voting trends showed disparities, with participation ranging from 53% to 57% in cities aligned with the opposition and 40% to 51% in Likud-leaning cities. In response to the congestion, the Elections Committee issued new instructions to expedite the voting process while maintaining security. These include verifying the next voter's identity while the current one is behind the curtain, accepting expired ID cards if the photo is clear, and conducting additional checks discreetly to avoid delaying the entire queue. The committee stressed that these measures aim to speed up voting without compromising integrity and reiterated that no voter in line by 10 p.m. will be denied their right to vote.
