Israel's Election Turnout Reaches Record Pace on Voting Day

Voter turnout in Israel's October 27, 2026 election had reached 66.7% by 6 p.m. (1600 GMT), a record for that point of the day, the Central Elections Committee said, according to Reuters.

The vote is for the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and it is the first election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. The Associated Press described it as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. Earlier in the day, the committee said turnout had climbed above 31% by noon, according to AP. The committee also said turnout had reached 55.7% in the first nine hours of voting, which it described as the fastest pace on record.

Prime Minister Netanyahu warned about a surge in Arab voter turnout. Arab voters in Israel had said they planned to vote in large numbers in an effort to oust him, as CNN reported.

The BBC reported that about 500,000 first-time voters were expected to have cast ballots. It also reported that about 70,000 Israelis were flying in from abroad to vote.

Markets also reacted. Israel's shekel, the national currency, rose 1.8% to 3.02, its strongest level in five weeks, as high turnout lifted traders' bets, according to Reuters.

Polling stations were due to stay open until 10 p.m. The Central Elections Committee's website, bechirot.gov.il, links to separate sites for the 26th Knesset elections and for the results of that vote.