Israel 2026 Elections: High Turnout Sparks Political Clash Over Polling Hours

As the 2026 Knesset elections unfold with high voter turnout, Petah Tikva has emerged as the leading major city with 52.8% participation—representing 107,955 votes—by 4:00 PM. Concurrently, IDF data shows a 68% turnout among service members by 5:00 PM, marking a three-percentage-point increase compared to the previous elections at the same hour.

Disinformation Campaigns and Fake News

Amid mounting political tensions, the "Fake Reporter" organization has exposed multiple fabricated reports circulating on social media. Among them was an AI-generated image showing massive lines at a Sakhnin polling station, designed to provoke panic among right-wing voters. Another viral post featured a vehicle convoy in Lod falsely labeled as a Hamas support rally, whereas footage confirmed the cars belonged to the Ra'am party.

Furthermore, social media rumors claimed that Ra'am senior figures distributed 8 million shekels from a truck to voters. Fake Reporter clarified that these claims are entirely baseless fabrication without any factual foundation.

Political Clashes Over Polling Hours

With national participation reaching historic highs at 55.7% by 4:00 PM—compared to 47.5% during the previous vote—a political showdown has erupted regarding a potential extension of voting hours. The Likud party officially petitioned the Central Election Committee to extend voting until 11:00 PM past the standard 10:00 PM closing time, citing heavy polling station congestion.

The Shas and Otzma Yehudit parties quickly joined the formal request to prolong the voting window. However, Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party strongly opposed the move, stating that no unusual disruptions justify altering the schedule and accusing the initiative of seeking to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.