Israel Election Turnout Peaks, Approaching 50-Year High

Turnout in Israel's 2026 elections is on pace to be the highest in more than 50 years, with nearly 45% of registered voters having cast ballots by 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday. This level of participation is the highest recorded at that hour since 1973, according to the Central Elections Committee. Approximately 3.3 million of Israel's 7.3 million eligible voters had voted as of Tuesday afternoon.

The election features a closely contested race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing alliance and an opposition coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. The "change bloc," as it is known, aims to unseat Netanyahu, who has served as Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

Actress Gal Gadot was among the voters who cast her ballot Tuesday, sharing a video on Instagram urging her fellow Israelis to participate. "I'm voting for change, and I hope that today, Tuesday... that it will only be good for us all," Gadot stated, emphasizing the democratic right to vote.

Gadot's call to action came a day after she received an honorary doctorate from Israel's Bar-Ilan University, where she also encouraged people to vote.

Polls released prior to the election indicated that Eisenkot's coalition held a lead over Netanyahu's Likud and allied parties. However, the final outcome hinges on whether either bloc can secure the 61 seats required for a majority in the Knesset.

Turnout among the Israel Defense Forces also saw an increase compared to the 2022 election, with at least 48% of registered military voters casting ballots by 1 p.m. local time.

Israel is recognized for its regular democratic elections within a region where hereditary monarchies are prevalent. This marks the nation's sixth election in the past seven years.