NIS 193,740,000 is the budget of the Central Elections Committee

Open forum helps voters understand policy differences.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

5,014,622 eligible voters

31 parties are competing for a spot in the 17th Knesset

8,507 polling stations (not final)

1,186 polling stations with access for the handicapped

40,000 people will man polling stations

NIS 1,750 the salary each polling station secretary will receive for elections day starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 2 or 3 a.m. Salary also includes five hours of training

NIS 500 the salary each polling station member will receive for elections day starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 2 or 3 a.m.

900 maximum number of voters in one polling station

100 voters will vote in the smallest polling station

NIS 1.15 million a funding unit the state allocates to each party for every MK it has for the purpose of campaign funding. 60% is given before the elections, 25% after the elections and the final 15% after the state comptroller's approval

5 maximum number of funding units a new party is entitled to receive, if it can provide bank guarantees for the funds. If a party fails to pass the voter threshold it must return the money it received from the Elections Committee

NIS 1,900 maximum contribution a party is entitled to receive from any one contributor

86.9% voter turnout in 1949

68.9% voter turnout in 2003

NIS 1,800 to register a party

NIS 194.8 million parties' expenditures in the January 2003 elections, of which NIS 167.6m came from state funding

14 laws initiated by the 16th Knesset's best legislators, NRP MKs Shaul Yahalom and Gila Finkelstein

1 bill introduced by the 16th Knesset's worst legislators: MKs Yosef Lapid (Shinui), Raleb Majadala (Labor) and Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres (Labor/Kadima)

553 speeches were delivered by the most vocal MK in the 16th Knesset, Abdul Malik Dahamshe (United Arab List)

20 speeches given by the least talkative legislator in the 16th Knesset, David Levy (Likud)