More Parties Join Call to Extend Election Voting Hours Amid High Turnout
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The "Am Israel" party, led by Ofer Winter, has joined the Likud and other right-wing and religious parties in demanding an extension of election voting hours past 10 PM due to reported congestion. Opposition party "Yashar!" led by Gadi Eisenkot, however, strongly opposes the extension, calling it unjustified and a potential attempt to undermine election integrity. The calls for extension come amid high turnout in some sectors and concerns about apathy in others.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party joins Likud's call to extend election voting hours past 10 PM.
- Winter cited "unusual congestion" and the need to prevent a "Abbas-Golan government."
- Shas and Otzma Yehudit also requested the extension due to long waiting times at polls.
- Right-wing and religious parties express concern over voter apathy and high turnout elsewhere.
- Opposition party "Yashar!" led by Gadi Eisenkot strongly opposes the extension request.
- Eisenkot claims the request lacks justification and aims to sow doubt about election fairness.
The "Am Israel" party, led by Ofer Winter, has joined the Likud party's demand to extend election voting hours beyond 10 PM. Winter stated that the extension is necessary to allow all supporters to vote and prevent a "Abbas-Golan government." The party officially submitted its request to the Central Elections Committee, citing "unusual congestion" at polling stations.
Winter's party joins a growing coalition of right-wing and religious parties seeking the extension. The Likud initially requested the additional hour due to significant lines at polling stations. Shas and Otzma Yehudit, led by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, subsequently echoed this demand, emphasizing the need to allow every citizen to exercise their democratic right amid prolonged waiting times.
These demands come amid high voter turnout reported in Arab communities and left-wing strongholds. Meanwhile, concerns about voter apathy among their own supporters have prompted warnings from leaders of the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas's Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism's Yaakov Asher, about the potential loss of government power.
Conversely, the opposition has strongly opposed the extension. The "Yashar!" party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, issued a sharp statement rejecting the request. The party argued that no exceptional circumstances justify the extension and suggested the move is intended to create a basis for claims of election irregularities, following accusations made by Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier in the day.
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