Election Committee Eases Voting Rules Amidst Unprecedented Turnout

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Israel's 26th Knesset elections saw unusually high voter turnout, causing long lines at polling stations. The Central Elections Committee implemented new rules to speed up voting, allowing poll workers to prepare the next voter while the current one is in the booth. The increased participation is especially pronounced in Arab communities, with police deploying over 20,000 officers nationwide to manage the elections.

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Central Elections Committee changed voting rules due to high turnout and long lines.
New rules allow poll workers to identify next voter while current one is in booth.
Acting Director-General Dean Livna warned of removal for poll workers causing delays.
Arab communities are experiencing particularly high and unusual voter participation.
Over 20,000 police officers are deployed nationwide to ensure election order.

Israel's 26th Knesset elections opened with exceptionally high voter turnout, leading to significant congestion at polling stations across the country. In response to the long queues that formed early in the day, the Central Elections Committee decided to modify its procedures to expedite the voting process.

The new directive allows poll workers to begin identifying the next voter, including checking their identification, while the current voter is still behind the voting booth curtain. Dean Livna, Acting Director-General of the Elections Committee, stated that the committee views unnecessary delays seriously and warned poll workers that "a poll clerk who does not prevent congestion will be removed from his position."

The high turnout is particularly noticeable in Arab communities, where police reported a substantial increase in voters from the early morning hours compared to previous elections. A senior police official described the participation in Arab towns as "something unusual" compared to past elections.

This surge in activity is part of an unprecedented security deployment by the Israel Police, with over 20,000 officers stationed nationwide to maintain order and ensure the integrity of the elections at polling stations and sensitive locations.