Shas Joins Likud in Bid to Extend Election Voting Hours
The Shas party has joined the Likud party in requesting a one-hour extension to election voting hours due to unusually long queues at polling stations. This move aims to ensure all citizens can exercise their right to vote amid record turnout. As of 4:00 PM, 55.7% of eligible voters had cast ballots, an increase from previous elections. The Central Elections Committee will make the final decision on the extension.
הידיעה ב-5 שורות · תקציר של baba
- Shas party joins Likud in requesting a one-hour extension of election voting hours.
- The request is due to unusually long queues and high voter turnout across Israel.
- As of 4:00 PM, 55.7% of eligible voters had cast ballots, an 8.2% increase from the last election.
- Shas Chairman Arieh Deri expressed concerns about turnout in other sectors and the election's impact on Judaism.
- The Central Elections Committee will decide whether to grant the extension.
The Shas party announced Tuesday it is joining the Likud party's request to extend voting hours for the 26th Knesset elections by one hour. The demand stems from unusually heavy voter turnout and long queues observed at polling stations across Israel. Shas stated its goal is to prevent citizens waiting in line from being unable to cast their ballots and exercise their democratic right.
This joint appeal comes amid exceptionally high voter turnout figures. As of 4:00 PM, 55.7% of eligible voters had cast their ballots, an increase of 8.2 percentage points compared to the same time in the previous election. The Central Elections Committee will now decide on the request to extend the voting period, which was originally scheduled to close at 10:00 PM, though voters already in line at closing time are permitted to vote afterward.
The concerns about voter turnout, particularly within the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector, were echoed by other religious party leaders. United Torah Judaism Chairman MK Yaakov Asher warned that public enthusiasm was not translating into sufficient actual voting. Shas Chairman Arieh Deri had earlier expressed concerns about potentially high turnout in left-wing and Arab communities, cautioning about the implications for the Haredi public and framing the election as a "real struggle for Judaism."
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