Fact-Check: Examining Avigdor Lieberman's Claims on Voter Turnout
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman claimed ultra-Orthodox turnout hits 120% while Gush Dan and Sharon see 60%. A fact-check shows Haredi turnout is around 79%, making his statement inaccurate.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman recently claimed that voter turnout in ultra-Orthodox communities reaches "120%," while hovering around 60% in the Sharon and Gush Dan regions. A factual check reveals that while Lieberman is correct about the national average and the relatively low turnout in certain secular areas, his assertion regarding ultra-Orthodox voting rates is inaccurate.
Analyzing Ultra-Orthodox Turnout
According to data from the Central Election Committee for the 25th Knesset, the combined voter turnout in the four predominantly ultra-Orthodox cities—Bnei Brak, Modi'in Illit, Beitar Illit, and El'ad—stood at 79%. While significantly higher than the national average of 70.63%, it falls far short of 100%, let alone 120%.
Dr. Gilad Malach of the Israel Democracy Institute noted that an analysis of distinct ultra-Orthodox polling stations between 2013 and 2022 shows no decline in participation, with weighted turnout remaining consistently around 79%. Lieberman's rhetoric regarding impossibly high turnout figures echoes previous claims made by his party suggesting electoral irregularities in the Haredi sector, though empirical data does not support the "120%" narrative.
Gush Dan and Sharon Turnout Dynamics
Regarding Gush Dan and the Sharon region, defining the municipal boundaries yields a combined voter turnout of 63.9%, which aligns relatively closely with Lieberman's 60% claim. However, significant local variations exist. In cities like Ramat HaSharon and Hod HaSharon, where Yesh Atid led the vote, turnout reached 71% and 74%, respectively.
Furthermore, research from the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality suggests that official turnout figures can be misleading due to registered voters who no longer reside in the city. Adjusting for actual residents, Tel Aviv's voter turnout rises from 56.2% to 72.1%, surpassing the national average.
"The voting rate in ultra-Orthodox society is indeed higher than the national average, but it does not approach double the rates found in Gush Dan and Sharon cities," the investigation concluded, rating Lieberman's statement as inaccurate.
