Israel Election Sees Record Turnout Since 1973 as Polls Close

Israelis voted in parliamentary elections on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to elect a new Knesset. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time for approximately 7.3 million eligible voters.

By 10 a.m., 16.68 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots, compared to 15.9 percent at the same hour in 2022. Turnout reached 31.5 percent by noon, surpassing the 28.4 percent recorded during the previous elections.

“In Israel a wind of change is blowing, this change will arrive tonight at 10 p.m.”

At 2 p.m., participation climbed to 44.9 percent, or 3.29 million voters, marking the highest midday turnout since records began in 1973. Election Commission Director Dean Livne announced the figure.

By 6 p.m., turnout had risen to 66.7 percent, up from 57.7 percent at the same time in the previous election. Polling stations closed at 10 p.m. local time, after which initial projections were expected.

Likud, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, requested extended polling hours and urged supporters to vote exclusively for the party via Telegram. Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main challenger, cast his vote in Holon and said a wind of change was blowing through Israel.

National turnout grew rapidly, but some traditional Likud strongholds recorded participation well below the national average. Turnout was also high among Arab Bedouin communities in the south and at military bases in the north.