Participation in Israeli elections until 12 noon reaches record since 1977

A the rate of participation in today's Israeli legislative elections was 31.5% to 12.00 locals (10 a.m. in Lisbon), which is the largest turnout since 1977, indicated electoral source.

According to Israel’s Central Election Commission, 2.3 million Israelis have already voted at 12 noon, which points to high participation, since it is the highest figure in almost 40 years, the country’s press recalled.

At this hour, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, former Chief of the Gadi Eisenkot Army, have already voted on a day when more than 7.3 million Israelis are called to the polls.

In these elections, Netanyahu plays his stay in power after four years marked by Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, in front of a heterogeneous bloc of forces that, led by Eisenkot, seeks to overthrow him and put an end to the government more to the right than Israel had since his creation in 1948.

At stake in these elections, already classified as one of the most uncertain ever in Israel, are the 120 seats of Parliament (Knesset) and the consequent governance of the country.

To rule with an absolute majority, a party or coalition needs to gather at least 61 parliamentary seats.

The Israelis vote on party lists and not individual candidates. In this ballot, 37 parties are included in the ballot, but only those who exceed the 3.25% election hall enter the Knesset.