Parties Clash Over Extending Knesset Election Voting Hours Amid Record Turnout
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Amid record turnout for Israel's 26th Knesset elections, the Likud, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit parties are demanding an extension of voting hours past 10 PM due to heavy congestion. Gadi Eisenkot's "Yisrael Beiteinu" party opposes the request, alleging it's a political ploy by Netanyahu. The Central Elections Committee is considering the extension, with a senior official stating a decision will be made based on actual congestion, and those already in line at closing will be allowed to vote.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit demand extension of election voting hours due to record turnout and queues.
- Gadi Eisenkot's "Yisrael Beiteinu" party opposes the extension, calling it a political tactic.
- Voter turnout by 4 PM reached 55.7%, a record high for the 26th Knesset elections.
- The Central Elections Committee is considering the extension request based on congestion.
- Voters in line by the 10 PM closing time will be allowed to finish voting.
As record voter turnout for the 26th Knesset elections unfolds, a political dispute has erupted over extending polling station hours. By 4 PM, 55.7% of eligible voters had cast ballots, significantly higher than the 47.5% at the same time in the previous election. Channel 12 commentator Amit Segal noted a substantial increase in participation among Arab citizens and in left-leaning strongholds, with a more moderate rise in Likud strongholds and a slight decrease among the ultra-Orthodox.
The Likud party officially requested the Central Elections Committee to extend voting hours beyond the scheduled 10 PM closing time, citing unusual congestion and long queues. Shas and Otzma Yehudit later joined this demand, seeking to allow voting until 11 PM. They argue that the extension is necessary to enable the public to exercise their right to vote despite the exceptional queues.
However, Gadi Eisenkot's "Yisrael Beiteinu" party vehemently opposes the extension. The party issued a statement asserting that no unusual events justify the request, which they claim is intended to lay the groundwork for accusations against the integrity of the elections, following what they describe as "lies spread by Netanyahu since morning." Yisrael Beiteinu attributes political motives to the request, rather than a genuine concern over voter congestion.
Legally, Section 70a of the Knesset Elections Law allows the presidency of the Central Elections Committee to alter polling station hours in special circumstances, such as severe disruptions preventing normal voting. This provision is intended for exceptional situations and does not grant parties an automatic right to extend the election day nationwide.
Naomi Binyamini, a senior official at the Elections Committee, stated that an extension is being considered if the congestion warrants it, with the final decision resting with the committee's authorized officials. Meanwhile, Dean Livna, acting Director-General of the Elections Committee, clarified that individuals in line before the 10 PM closing time will be allowed to vote, even if it extends past the deadline. However, those arriving after closing will not be permitted to join the queue unless an extension is officially approved. Original closing times remain in effect unless otherwise announced by the committee, with some smaller communities and special polling stations closing at 8 PM.
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