Voter turnout in Israel’s general election reached its highest level in decades, with 74.3% of eligible voters having cast their ballots by 20:00 local time on Tuesday, 27 October.
The Central Elections Committee said turnout had reached 55.7% by 16:00, with more than four million people having voted. This was up from 47.5% at the same time during the 2022 election. By 20:00, more than 5.4 million people had voted out of approximately 7.33 million eligible voters. Turnout at that point in the previous election was 66.3%.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voted in Jerusalem. He urged his supporters to turn out, saying participation among Arab voters and groups opposed to him had increased. The Central Elections Committee said that, despite reports of possible irregularities at some polling stations, it had found no evidence of widespread ballot tampering.
The election is Israel’s first general election since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and wider regional conflict. The government’s handling of national security, the war, the hostages and Israel’s international relations have been major issues in the campaign.
Netanyahu faces opposition from rival political groups, including those associated with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Other key issues include exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, judicial independence and the government’s policies towards the Palestinians.
Under Israel’s electoral system, voters elect party lists to the 120-seat Knesset, the country’s parliament. As no single party typically secures a majority, forming a government depends on negotiations between parties to build a coalition. The election result and subsequent coalition talks could therefore shape Netanyahu’s political future and determine the composition of Israel’s next government.
