Israel Election Day Closes, Polls Project Seat Distribution
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Voting for Israel's 26th Knesset elections concluded on October 26, 2026, with major TV channels releasing exit poll projections. The key question is whether any bloc will achieve the 61-seat majority needed to form a government. Voter turnout was exceptionally high, reaching 74.3% by 8:00 PM, an increase from the previous election. Official results will be determined by the Central Elections Committee as ballots are counted.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli Knesset elections concluded on October 26, 2026, with exit polls released by major TV channels.
- The main electoral question is whether any political bloc will secure the 61 seats needed to form a government.
- Voter turnout was exceptionally high, reaching 74.3% by 8:00 PM, an increase from the 2022 elections.
- Exit poll projections are not official results and may differ before the Central Elections Committee counts actual ballots.
- Voters in line at polling stations by 10:00 PM will still be allowed to cast their ballots.
Voting in Israel's 26th Knesset elections concluded at 10:00 PM local time on October 26, 2026. Following the closure of polling stations, major Israeli television channels, including Channel 12, Channel 13, Channel 14, and Kan 11, began releasing their exit poll projections. These initial forecasts aim to provide a preliminary understanding of how the 120 parliamentary seats might be allocated.
The primary focus of the evening is whether any political bloc will secure the 61-seat majority required to form a government. The elections saw exceptionally high voter turnout. By 8:00 PM, the Central Elections Committee reported that 5,449,277 citizens, or 74.3% of eligible voters, had cast their ballots. This figure represents an eight percentage point increase compared to the 66.3% turnout at the same time during the 2022 parliamentary elections. Such a significant difference in participation could influence the distribution of seats, particularly for parties near the electoral threshold.
The projections released by the television networks are based on post-voting surveys and are not official results. Discrepancies are expected among the channels regarding the number of seats for individual parties and the overall balance of power between political blocs. A clearer picture will emerge as the Central Elections Committee begins counting the actual ballots. Voters who arrived at polling stations before the 10:00 PM deadline will still be allowed to vote, even if they are still in line after the official closing time.
