Israeli Interior Ministry Details Voter Eligibility Rules Amid Residency Status Concerns

Ahead of Israel's 26th Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, 2026, the Interior Ministry has published updated rules regarding voter eligibility and inclusion in the voter registry. A key issue highlighted is the impact of "residency disconnection" on Israelis living abroad, which may prevent them from voting if they are not registered as residents in the population registry. According to the election law, to appear in the voter registry, an individual must be an Israeli citizen on the registry extraction date, be registered as a resident in the population registry, and be at least 18 years old.

Israelis living overseas who have lost their residency status but still have a registered address in Israel can vote. However, those without a registered Israeli address will not appear in the voter registry and thus cannot vote. Such individuals can appeal this status until August 4, 2026, and must ensure their Israeli address is registered by September 2, 2026. The Interior Ministry provides multiple channels for checking voter registration status, including a national call center, WhatsApp service available 24/7 in several languages, and email support.

The deadline for submitting requests to correct voter registry details is August 4, 2026. Citizens can inquire about their residency status and voter eligibility through the Population and Immigration Authority's national service center by phone or email. The Interior Ministry and the Central Elections Committee websites also offer detailed information. The ministry emphasizes the importance of verifying residency status to ensure eligibility to vote in the upcoming elections.