Israel Election Turnout Hits 77.7% as Polls Close and Counting Begins
The Central Elections Committee says 5,695,682 people voted by 22:00, with turnout about 7.1 percentage points higher than at the same hour in the last election.
Voter turnout in Israel's Knesset election reached 77.7% by 22:00 on Tuesday, October 27, the highest at that hour since 2001, the Central Elections Committee said.
A total of 5,695,682 people voted. All polling stations have now closed, and votes are being counted, entered into the system and checked.
A sharp rise in turnout
Turnout was up about 7.1 percentage points from the same hour in the previous election, when it stood at about 70.6%.
The committee's figure covers voting up to the close of polls. The final turnout figure will be published with the official results.
How the count works
After the polls close, the members of each polling station committee count the paper ballots by hand and record the result in an official protocol.
The protocols and voting materials are then sent to the regional election committees, where the results are entered into the system and checked before they are published.
Double envelope votes, cast by soldiers, diplomats and others who vote away from their home polling station, are counted separately after checks confirm that no one voted twice.
Partial results through the night
The committee publishes results as polling stations are counted. Early figures reflect only the ballots counted so far, and parties' shares can move as more stations are added.
The exit polls broadcast at 22:00 are surveys of voters, not part of the official count.
From votes to Knesset seats
Israelis vote for party lists for the 120 seat Knesset. A list needs at least 3.25% of the valid votes to enter parliament, and seats are divided among the lists that pass the threshold.
For parties close to the threshold, the final count can decide whether they enter the Knesset at all. A majority is 61 seats, and the next government will be formed by whoever can command that majority.
