Israel reports highest midday election turnout since 1977
More than 31% of eligible Israelis had voted by noon on October 27, according to figures cited by the Associated Press, as parties compete to form the next government.
More than 31% of Israelis had voted by noon on October 27, the highest midday turnout in a national election since 1977, according to Associated Press reporting on figures from Israel’s Central Elections Committee. The early voting pace comes in a close contest over whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition will remain in power.
More than 7 million people were eligible to vote. The noon figure measures ballots cast by that point in the day; it does not establish final turnout or which parties will be able to form a government.
Why the election is closely contested
Netanyahu faces several parties seeking to remove him from office. Opinion polls cited by the AP suggested a tight race with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. The Guardian reported before polling day that Netanyahu’s coalition narrowly trailed in the polls and that he had intensified warnings about Iran during the campaign.
This is Israel’s first national election since the October 7, 2023, attack, which was followed by the war in Gaza and related conflicts. The vote takes place amid divisions over security and the country’s leadership, the AP reported. In Tel Aviv, families of some people killed in the attack and former hostages held a moment of silence.
How coalition talks could decide the government
No single party has won an outright parliamentary majority in Israel, according to the AP. Neither Netanyahu’s coalition nor the parties trying to replace him may secure enough support to govern, leaving open the prospect of weeks of negotiations before a leader is chosen. Arab-led parties could become pivotal if other parties agree to work with them.
Netanyahu voted shortly after midday and urged his supporters to cast ballots. He told journalists that Arab parties were receiving strong support, a claim he made while encouraging turnout among his own voters. Mansour Abbas, who leads the Ra’am party, said he hoped turnout in Arab communities would exceed 70%. That was his goal, not a reported turnout figure.
The turnout milestone therefore describes an unusually busy first part of polling day, while the composition of the next government depends on the votes cast across the full day and any coalition agreements that follow. The AP reported that a close result could leave parties negotiating for weeks.
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Sources and context
- Israelis are voting on whether to oust Netanyahu in first election since Oct. 7 attackPBS NewsHour, reporting by the Associated Press
- Netanyahu reportedly pressured military to attack Iran in run-up to electionThe Guardian
- Israelis head to elections with Netanyahu’s legacy on the lineGlobal News, carrying Associated Press reporting
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.