Voter Turnout Reaches 74.3% as 5.5 Million Cast Ballots

Early trends showed high participation in Haredi cities, where turnout reached approximately 35% by 12:30 PM, compared to a national average of 31.5%. By late afternoon, Elad and Modi'in Illit reported 59% turnout, and Rekhasim reached 63.1%. However, JDN reported that slower-than-expected turnout in core Haredi cities like Bnei Brak, which stood at 53.3% by 4:45 PM, and Beitar Illit, at 52%, caused concern at party headquarters.

In Arab and Bedouin communities, Rahat recorded a high turnout of 60.6% to 61% by late afternoon. Other Arab towns showed varied participation, with Sakhnin at 51.7%, Tayibe at 48%, Nazareth between 46.7% and 47%, and Umm al-Fahm at 41.7%. In Judea and Samaria, high turnout was recorded in Karnei Shomron at 62%, Alfei Menashe at 58%, and Elkana at 57%, while Ariel reported low participation.

Cities aligned with the opposition saw strong early voting that later slowed down. By late afternoon, Hod HaSharon led these areas with 58.8% turnout, followed by Ramat HaSharon at 58.4% and Kfar Saba at 56.6%, while Tel Aviv-Yafo lagged at 50.4%. In response to the shifting trends, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich held an emergency meeting with dozens of mayors to boost right-wing turnout, while Yashr! Chairman Gadi Eisenkot urged his supporters to mobilize.