Israelis vote for 26th Knesset

Israeli voters cast ballots on October 27 to elect the 26th Knesset, the country's 120-seat unicameral parliament. This election marks the first held at the natural end of a legislative term since 1988.

According to the Central Elections Committee, 7,331,981 people are eligible to vote. Voters are choosing from 37 party lists, with a 3.25% threshold required to enter the Knesset. The national proportional system requires voters to select a party list rather than an individual candidate.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. and were scheduled to close at 10:00 p.m. The Central Elections Committee organized 12,018 polling stations, including 250 in hospitals, 55 in prisons or detention centers, and 102 at Israeli diplomatic missions abroad. Media reports indicated an unprecedented turnout, and the Likud party requested to delay the scheduled 10:00 p.m. closing time.