Israel election turnout highest in 50 years as voting continues
Summary
Nearly 45 percent of Israeli voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the highest turnout recorded by that time in 50 years and 6 percentage points above the pace in 2022. The election focuses in part on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent wars; a civil rights group asked election officials to investigate reported delays at polling stations.Key Facts
- Israel’s Central Elections Committee reported that almost 45 percent of voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m.
- Turnout was 6 percentage points higher than at the same time during the 2022 election.
- Pollster Mitchell Barak said high turnout could help incumbent parties because parties need at least 3.25 percent of the vote to enter the Knesset.
- Israeli officials reported long lines at several polling stations amid rainy and blustery weather in parts of the country.
- Netanyahu urged his supporters to vote and said turnout was high among left-wing voters and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
- Palestinian candidate Ahmed Tibi said Palestinian citizens of Israel were voting in unprecedented numbers.
- Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot have ruled out partnering with Arab parties.
- The Association for Civil Rights in Israel asked the Central Elections Committee to investigate delays reported in at least 18 communities and concerns about police presence at a Negev polling station.
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