not everywhere· Politics· Updated
Israelis Abroad Begin Voting for October 27 General Election
Voting for Israel’s 2026 general election began abroad on Wednesday night, with diplomats and other eligible state representatives casting early ballots at Israeli missions worldwide. The same process will later open for soldiers, while most Israelis abroad still must travel back home to vote on October 27.
4 newsrooms · 1 language · since
What happened
- 01Voting for Israel’s 2026 general election opened abroad on Wednesday night at Israeli missions worldwide, with about 4,800 eligible voters taking part.
- 02The overseas vote is being held at 101 polling stations in 99 diplomatic missions, from Wellington in New Zealand to consulates in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
- 03The Foreign Ministry and the Central Elections Committee are collecting the ballots and sending them to Israel for counting at the Knesset.
- 04The IDF will begin early voting for soldiers on October 20 at about 850 polling stations, including mobile units.
- 05Special polling stations are being set up for soldiers in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, where the army has personnel stationed.
- 06Most Israelis abroad cannot vote overseas and must return to Israel for the October 27 election, which Haaretz English said involves travel and registration hurdles.
- 07All Israel News said a dispute arose over a U.S.-based organization that helps expatriates travel back to Israel to vote.
About 4,800 eligible voters are taking part in the overseas phase at 101 polling stations in 99 diplomatic missions, from Wellington, New Zealand, to consulates in California. Ballots are being collected by the Foreign Ministry and the Central Elections Committee and sent to Israel for counting at the Knesset. The first votes were cast in Wellington, followed by Fiji, and the final stations are in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The IDF is also preparing early voting for soldiers, which begins on October 20 at about 850 polling stations, including mobile units. Some stations will be set up for troops in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, where the army has personnel stationed.
Alongside the official overseas vote, the reports describe travel back to Israel by thousands of citizens who are entitled to vote only inside the country. Haaretz English said those voters face travel and registration hurdles, while All Israel News said the return travel has become a point of contention after a petition over a U.S.-based organization that helps expatriates reach Israel for Election Day.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 4 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Ynetnews. Read Ynetnews’s originalThe coverage
4 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- Left1
- Centre2
- Right1
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
Not in the Haredi or Arab press
How it broke
How the headlines differ
Israelis Abroad Begin Voting for October 27 General Election
