Israel election turnout reaches 16.7% in three hours
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
Turnout in Israel’s elections reached 16.7% of registered voters in the first three hours, its fastest pace since 1981. The vote, held on 27 October and marked by a close race between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, is due to end at 10pm, according to the Central Elections Committee, cited by Sowetan.
Turnout in Israel’s legislative elections reached 16.7% in the first three hours of voting, which opened at 7am on Tuesday, the Central Elections Committee said. This was the highest initial turnout rate since 1981.
The vote notably pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Israel’s coalition of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, against Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief of staff and candidate backed by right-wing, centrist and left-wing parties. Polling stations are due to close at 10pm, while opinion polls point to a close race with no clear majority for either side.
This is the first election since the attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023. It comes after the tributes to the victims of 7 October in Tel Aviv, held on 27 October, and after Eisenkot accused Netanyahu on 26 October of exploiting the Iranian threat, on the eve of the vote.
