Israel's election committee rejects Likud request to extend voting hours, citing high turnout

Israel's Central Elections Committee rejected a request to extend voting beyond 10pm local time in the 27 October 2026 national election.

Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asked election authorities on Tuesday to extend voting hours. France 24 and Anadolu Agency both reported the request. "We have submitted a request to extend voting hours," Likud said in a message on Telegram, according to France 24.

The committee cited high turnout. "High nationwide turnout across all sectors of society reflects strong public engagement in the democratic process, and no need to extend voting hours was identified," it said in a statement quoted by France 24.

What else is reported

According to France 24, national authorities reported record turnout. France 24 put turnout at 66.7% as of 6pm local time. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say who issued that figure.

France 24 said this is Israel's first national election since the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party and the right-wing Amcha Yisrael party backed Likud's call to extend voting by one hour, until 11pm, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz as cited by France 24.

On Tuesday, Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit visited Kafr Qasem and Orit Strock of Religious Zionism visited Rehat, France 24 reported. Both filmed videos warning their supporters about high turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. France 24 reported that Ben-Gvir made his claim about Arab-sector turnout without providing evidence.

What is disputed

The purpose of the request is contested. France 24 described it as part of an effort to mobilise voters. The reports do not include Likud's stated reason. They also do not provide evidence for claims of high Arab-sector turnout or of lower turnout in Likud strongholds.

What each side says

• Yashar party (led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot): it firmly opposes the request. "No exceptional incident has occurred that would justify granting this request, which is intended to lay the groundwork for allegations challenging the integrity of the election, continuing the lies Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning," the party said, according to France 24.
• Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, said in a video message quoted by France 24: "Benjamin Netanyahu is lying and inciting against the United Arab List, using it as a scare tactic to mobilise right-wing voters and drive them to the polls." The reports do not include Netanyahu's own words on the fraud allegations Abbas referred to.
• Ben-Gvir, in a video posted on Tuesday afternoon, according to France 24: "The voter turnout in the Arab sector is insane. Absolutely insane." He added: "If you want this country to remain Jewish and Zionist … then get out and vote!"
• Strock, according to France 24: "This mad rush must wake us up."
• David Khalfa, Middle East specialist at the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, said turnout in Likud strongholds was notably lower than the national average, particularly in the north and south. France 24 quoted him as calling this "Not a good sign for Netanyahu."
• Anshel Pfeffer, a British-Israeli journalist, said Likud supporters were urging residents in Jerusalem to counter the Arab vote, according to France 24.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include final turnout or results.

Analysis

The committee's refusal keeps polling hours unchanged, but the dispute over why Likud sought an extension may outlast election day. The Yashar party argues the request was meant to prepare challenges to the result. Likud's own reasoning is not in the reports reviewed. If results are close, the request and the fraud allegations described by Mansour Abbas could become part of post-election arguments. That remains uncertain. The reports do not say whether any party plans an appeal or challenge. Turnout claims about specific communities also lack supporting evidence in the reports. Polymarket users put the chance of Gadi Eisenkot ousting Netanyahu at 64%, according to France 24. That is a market forecast, not a result.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.