Election Day Sees Shifting Turnout Trends as Haredi Vote Surges
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
On Election Day for Israel's 26th Knesset, voter turnout in liberal strongholds slowed after a strong morning, while the Haredi sector maintained high participation rates. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich held an emergency meeting as national turnout hit a record 55.7% by 4 PM. Gadi Eisenkot urged supporters to mobilize, warning of Netanyahu's tactics. The final hours are crucial, with exit polls expected at 10 PM.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi voter turnout is high, exceeding the national average, while liberal strongholds see a slowdown.
- National voter turnout reached a record 55.7% by 4 PM, the highest since 1973.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich held an emergency meeting with mayors to boost right-wing turnout.
- Gadi Eisenkot urged supporters to mobilize, accusing Netanyahu of using fear-mongering tactics.
- Exit polls are expected at 10 PM to reveal the election's outcome.
On Election Day for the 26th Knesset, initial morning turnout in liberal and Arab/Bedouin strongholds has slowed, while the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector continues to vote at high rates. As of 12:30 PM, Haredi voter turnout was approximately 35%, exceeding the national average of 31.5%. Cities with significant Haredi populations, such as Modi'in Illit (36.7%), Elad (32%), and Bnei Brak (28.4%), showed strong participation, with Jerusalem's overall turnout at 27.1%.
The pace of voting is a key concern. While liberal strongholds saw a strong morning surge, participation has since decelerated. In contrast, Haredi voting centers maintained a steady pace. This trend has prompted calls from within the change bloc, with Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of 'Yashr!', urging supporters to increase their efforts and warning against Netanyahu's "familiar tricks, lies, and fear-mongering" to mobilize voters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich held an emergency meeting with dozens of mayors. By 4:00 PM, national turnout reached a record 55.7%, a significant increase from 47.5% at the same time in the previous election. Netanyahu urged mayors to mobilize voters, warning against votes for "fake right-wing" parties like Lieberman's, stating that any party failing to pass the electoral threshold would result in lost mandates for the national camp.
While high turnout alone doesn't guarantee a bloc's victory, the final hours are critical. The outcome depends on the composition of voters and the distribution of votes among parties. The election results will become clearer with exit polls released at 10:00 PM. Despite Arie Deri, Chairman of Shas, issuing a warning about apathy in Haredi and right-wing areas, the Haredi sector's high turnout suggests a potentially historic participation rate. Right-wing parties are emphasizing that a higher overall turnout raises the electoral threshold, making votes for parties that don't pass it a direct risk of losing mandates for the national camp.
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