Israel Election Results Expected Thursday Amid High Voter Turnout

Voting for the 26th Knesset concluded on Tuesday, October 27th, with preliminary data indicating the highest voter turnout since 1988, notably driven by unprecedented activity among Arab voters. The Central Elections Committee expects to release the final results by noon on Thursday, October 29th, though official results must be announced within eight days, by November 4th. Initial data began appearing on the committee's website overnight on October 28th, with ongoing updates expected as ballots are processed. Exit polls released immediately after polls closed offer only a preliminary picture, and past elections have shown significant discrepancies between these and final outcomes, especially in close races.

Election officials monitored polling stations throughout the day, receiving approximately 10,000 reports of suspicious situations, of which 2,000 were dismissed. The Central Elections Committee, located in the Knesset building, is verifying data from thousands of polling stations, prioritizing the review of voting protocols. Recounts may be initiated if necessary, a process typically taking one to two days.

The final tally will include approximately 650,000 ballots from "double envelopes." These are cast by soldiers, police, sailors, hospital patients, nursing home residents, prisoners, and individuals with disabilities, as well as by Israelis abroad, whose votes were cast on October 15th. The double envelopes are not opened at polling stations but are sent to the Knesset for verification against voter lists to prevent double voting. Ballots from individuals who voted twice will be invalidated and reported to the police.

This significant number of double-envelope ballots, a 44% increase from the previous election, is attributed to a rise in reservists and individuals evacuated due to military operations. These votes are estimated to represent about 15 parliamentary seats and could be decisive for parties near the 3.25% electoral threshold.

The Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10th. Following the official results, the Israeli President will consult with parliamentary factions to recommend a candidate for prime minister. The chosen candidate will have 28 days, extendable by 14 days, to form a coalition government. If unsuccessful, the mandate may pass to another candidate or return to the Knesset, potentially triggering new elections.