Israel Elections: Voting ends with low turnout reaching just over 67%

Voter turnout could have a big influence on which parties cross the electoral threshold.

MARCH 23, 2021 23:47

Israel Elections: A polling station in Jerusalem, as Israelis vote in their general elections, on March 23, 2021. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90) — Israel Elections: A polling station in Jerusalem, as Israelis vote in their general elections, on March 23, 2021.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90)

A total of 4,420,677 Israeli voters, comprising 67.2% of those eligible, had voted as of 10 p.m. when ballots closed, Central Elections Committee Chair Orly Adas announced on Tuesday.

This is an approximately 4.3% decrease in relation to the same time during Israel's last elections.

Voter turnout has been at its lowest since 2009 throughout the day, the streak breaking only at 8 p.m., when, in 2009, turnout was at 59.7%, and the total turnout was 65.2%

Some 305 votes have been counted as of 8 p.m. in Ben-Gurion Airport.

In contrast, voter turnout in the IDF increased by 7% in this election, at 77%, IDF announced in a tweet.

אחוז ההצבעה הגבוה ביותר בעשרים השנים האחרונות: כ-77% ממשרתי צה״ל הצביעו היום בבחירות לכנסת ה-24. זאת לעומת שיעור ההצבעה בבחירות הקודמות, בהן אחוז המשרתים שהצביעו עמד על כ-70%
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 23, 2021

Voter turnout could have a big influence on which parties cross the electoral threshold and enter the Knesset. Blue and White, Meretz and the Religious Zionist Party have all been teetering on the brink of the threshold in polls taken last week.

Some expressed concern that because Israelis are heading to polls for the fourth time in less than two years, many eligible voters may not bother going to polling stations due to widespread apathy.