Israeli citizens have shown determination to vote in the elections for Israel's 26th Knesset, breaking all-time voter turnout records, the Central Elections Committee reported.
According to the data, 74.3% of all eligible voters, approximately 4,900,000 Israelis, had cast their ballots as of 8 p.m., up from the previous record of 66.3% at 8 p.m.
The Central Elections Committee said at 2 p.m.: 'We have crossed all the records registered with the Central Elections Committee, 44.9%.' This figure represented the highest voter turnout rate in the history of the State of Israel until it was surpassed by the updated 4 p.m. figure, with turnout expected to keep climbing until polling stations close.
The statement came after turnout through noon stood at 31.5%, the highest turnout rate recorded at that hour in 53 years.
Voter turnout among IDF soldiers is also high. As of 1 p.m., 48% of all serving soldiers had voted. In the elections for the 25th Knesset, turnout at that hour stood at 44.4%.
Due to the high turnout and in order to prevent bottlenecks, the Central Elections Committee changed its guidelines for polling station officials, allowing them to begin identifying the next voter in line while the current voter is still behind the voting booth. In addition, due to the lengthening lines at polling stations, the Central Elections Committee made clear that anyone who arrives by 10 p.m. will be able to vote.
