Election Results Delayed by 'Double Envelopes' Containing 650,000 Votes
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israel's election results are delayed by the counting of 650,000 "double envelope" votes from individuals voting outside their home precincts. This process, involving verification and anonymization, is expected to push final results to Thursday, October 29, despite the official deadline being November 4, 2026. The large number of these votes, potentially worth 15 seats, could significantly alter the final outcome.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 650,000 "double envelope" votes are delaying Israel's election results.
- These votes are cast by individuals voting outside their registered precincts.
- The verification and counting process for these special ballots takes time.
- Final results are expected by Thursday afternoon, October 29.
- The large number of votes could impact up to 15 Knesset seats.
Israel's election results will be delayed due to the counting of "double envelopes," which contain an estimated 650,000 votes. These envelopes are used by individuals voting outside their designated precincts, including soldiers, hospital staff, patients, prisoners, diplomats, and others. The process involves a voter placing their regular ballot envelope inside a second envelope with their personal details. While regular ballots are counted on election night, the double envelopes are set aside and sent to the Central Elections Committee. There, personal details are verified against the voter registry to prevent duplicate voting. Once verified, the inner ballot is separated and mixed with other ballots to ensure anonymity before counting. This year's election is expected to see a record number of double envelopes due to the large number of reservists called up for duty. The Central Elections Committee estimates that the final results may not be ready until Thursday afternoon, October 29, although the official deadline for reporting results is November 4, 2026. The 650,000 votes in question could represent as many as 15 Knesset seats, meaning the final political picture could change significantly as these ballots are tallied.
