Israel Prepares for 26th Knesset Elections With Over 7.3 Million Eligible Voters

Israel is set to hold its 26th Knesset elections on Tuesday, with polling stations opening in less than 10 hours. A total of 7,331,981 eligible voters can cast their ballots at 12,018 polling stations across the country. The Central Elections Committee has mobilized approximately 100,000 workers, supported by extensive logistics, training, supervision, and control systems to manage the election process. To facilitate the vote, 450 million ballot papers have been printed, and measures are in place to ensure a fair, accessible, and secret voting procedure. Of the total polling stations, 6,209 will be accessible, including 3,621 specially equipped accessible stations. Special voting arrangements are also in effect for IDF soldiers, who have already begun voting at bases, as well as for hospitalized individuals and other eligible voters unable to reach their designated polling stations. The election integrity monitoring system will utilize around 15,000 cameras, alongside checks and controls throughout election day, vote counting, and results tabulation. The Central Elections Committee's control and command center in the Knesset will oversee the national situation, address incidents, and provide updates to the public and media. This center will operate through the night as vote counting progresses. Most polling stations will open at 7:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM. However, in smaller communities with up to 350 eligible voters, and at polling stations in hospitals, prisons, and nursing homes, voting hours will be shorter, running from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. National turnout percentages will be released starting at 11:00 AM and then every two hours until 11:00 PM. Detailed polling station data will be published at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, accessible on the Central Elections Committee website and a public voting map. Following the closure of polling stations, manual counting of ballots will commence. Results will be documented and transferred for processing at regional centers. Simultaneously, external envelopes will be checked for double voting, after which voter details will be separated from internal ballot envelopes to maintain secrecy. Final results will be published gradually as counting and data entry proceed. The committee emphasizes that these are partial results and may change until the final count, including all double envelopes and soldier votes, is completed. A live feed of the control center's activities will be available from 6:30 AM on Tuesday until Thursday evening.