Record 77.7% Voter Turnout Recorded in Israeli Elections

Voter turnout in Israel’s Knesset election reached 77.7 percent, marking the highest participation rate in a parliamentary election in the country since 1999. More than 5.69 million voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s (October 27) election.

Data from Israel’s Central Elections Committee shows that over 5.69 million out of approximately 7.33 million eligible voters participated. This year’s turnout represents a nearly 7.1 percentage point increase compared to the 70.63 percent recorded in the 2022 elections. Turnout in the 1999 Knesset election stood at 78.7 percent.
According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, voter turnout among the Arab community reached nearly 80 percent, five percentage points higher than the 1999 record. Palestinian citizens make up roughly 20 percent of Israel’s total population.
Earlier, the military reported that voter participation among military personnel surpassed 68 percent by 5:00 PM local time, up from 65 percent at the same point during the 2022 elections.
Polling stations were open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time on Tuesday, with individuals in line at closing time allowed to cast their ballots. Local media reported that the Central Elections Committee rejected a request by the ruling Likud Party to extend voting hours.

High voter turnout raised concerns among right-wing leaders. Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged right-wing voters to head to the polls at the last minute, describing turnout in the Arab community as “unprecedented” and warning it could lead to a “dangerous left-wing government.”
In a post on X, Mr. Smotrich wrote, “Do not lose hope! Victory is still possible.” Meanwhile, Arab political leaders accused right-wing politicians of making incitement statements against Palestinian citizens and questioning the legitimacy of their votes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also urged supporters to vote throughout election day. In a message delivered more than five hours after polls opened, he noted high turnout among left-wing voters and Palestinian citizens, urging right-wing voters to turn out in large numbers in what he called a “decisive moment.”
Ahead of the elections, Mr. Netanyahu repeatedly warned of high participation among Palestinian citizens, rallying supporters with the slogan “Right-wing or Palestine.” Palestinian candidate Ahmad Tibi noted that Palestinian citizens were voting in “unprecedented” numbers.

Mr. Netanyahu and his primary opponent, Gadi Eizenkot, ruled out forming a coalition with Arab political parties, citing mismatched values. However, analysts noted that Arab party support could potentially enable a minority government to remove Netanyahu from power.
Meanwhile, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) filed a complaint with the Central Elections Committee, citing long wait times and delays at polling stations that risked disenfranchising Palestinian citizens. ACRI reported delays in at least 18 locations and called for an investigation into whether they were deliberate.

ACRI also expressed concern over a heavy police and National Guard presence at a polling station in the Negev region, raising questions about whether voters were being hindered under the pretext of crowd control.

Source: Al Jazeera