Israel Votes: Record Turnout, Extended Hours Denied, and a Knife Threat Against Golan on Election Day

Israelis turned out in record numbers for the October 27 Knesset election, with 74.3% of eligible voters, more than 5.4 million people, having cast ballots by 8 p.m., according to a report by The Times of Israel. The figure already exceeded total turnout for the entire 2022 election and marked the highest participation at that hour since 1988, with hourly turnout setting records throughout the day compared to tracking that began in 1973. Turnout among incarcerated voters reached 88.7%, up from 79% in 2022.

Standard polling stations were set to close at 10 p.m., and the Central Elections Committee rejected a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party to extend voting hours, citing the already-high national turnout as justification. Stations remained open to anyone who arrived by the 10 p.m. cutoff even if long lines persisted, and polling in Hebron-area settlements was extended to 10 p.m. after power outages disrupted voting there.

The day was not without incident. Yisrael Beytenu activists reported being attacked in Netanya, and the party accused supporters of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of destroying its campaign materials. Separately, a man was arrested after approaching opposition Democrats leader Yair Golan with a knife. Election officials also addressed concerns over ballot slip quality, ruling that flawed ballots would still be counted as long as the voter's choice was clearly identifiable.

Among those casting ballots were Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas and Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot, while Netanyahu and his wife worked to mobilize supporters in Beit Shemesh during the final hours of voting. Exit polls were scheduled to air at 10 p.m., with official vote counting beginning immediately afterward and results expected to be reported through the night.