Israel Knesset Elections 2026: Midday Turnout Reaches 31.5 Percent
Israel's 26th Knesset elections see strong turnout with 31.5% voting by midday, a surge in Bedouin communities, and 48% participation among IDF troops as political leaders cast their ballots.
Israel's 26th Knesset elections are underway with high voter turnout reported across multiple sectors, including a surge in the Arab Bedouin community and among IDF servicemen, according to data released on Tuesday.
Bedouin Sector Turnout and IDF Voting
Local sources in the Bedouin community reported voter participation rates unseen in the past two decades, with some voters arriving at polling stations riding camels. Meanwhile, the Central Election Committee announced that national turnout reached 31.5% by 12:49 PM, with 2,309,587 citizens casting their ballots out of 7,331,981 eligible voters.
In the military, voter turnout among IDF personnel reached 48% by 1:00 PM, marking a 3.6 percentage point increase compared to 44.4% at the same hour during the previous parliamentary elections in 2022.
Political Leaders Cast Ballots
Politicians across the political spectrum exercised their democratic rights early in the day. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar! party and former military chief, accompanied by his wife Hanna, visited the grave of their late son Gal Meir in Herzliya before casting their ballots in the city.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and leader of the BeYachad party, Naftali Bennett, addressed voters regarding the campaign dynamics. Bennett rejected the emphasis on forming the largest party, urging citizens to vote based on ideological conviction.
"There is no significance to having the largest party in Israel. On the contrary, vote for the party you believe in, the party that will bring about the great correction," Bennett stated.
