Israeli Voter Turnout Reaches Record 55.7% by 4 p.m.

Voter turnout in Israel’s Knesset election reached 55.7% by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with 4,085,075 ballots cast, according to the Central Elections Committee. That was higher than the 47.5% turnout at the same point in the 2022 election. Turnout had risen from 44.9% by 2 p.m. Long lines led election officials to let polling-station workers begin identifying the next voter while another was still voting, and the committee said those arriving by the 10 p.m. closing time would still be allowed to vote. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged right-wing supporters to vote and alleged without evidence that opponents were trying to steal the election, while several parties filed complaints about missing or defaced ballot slips and other alleged irregularities.