# Israeli Election 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 27, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194 "2026-10-27T15:08:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/1 "2026-10-27T15:08:07Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Voting 2026 - Good, Bad, and Ugly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-2026-good-bad-and-ugly/1033700/97): > [@Voting 2026 - Good, Bad, and Ugly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-2026-good-bad-and-ugly/1033700/97): > > It’s Election Day in Israel, and I’m standing in line to vote at the Givatayim Memorial Center. I’ve never waited this long to get into a polling place. The news is saying that voter turnout by 10 AM is the highest since 1981. I figured this is worth its own thread. It’s a very big election. Turnout is the highest ever recorded at 55.7% and the polls aren’t closed yet. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/2 "2026-10-27T15:09:49Z")
I was reading the Arab turnout is also looking to be the highest ever. With any luck the fascist incumbent will lose this one. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/3 "2026-10-27T15:10:58Z")
> [@Voting 2026 - Good, Bad, and Ugly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-2026-good-bad-and-ugly/1033700/103): > > (This election is a big deal, even here. I have a friend whose brother, an Israeli citizen, flew to Israel so he could vote for Netanyahu. She says she avoids talking about politics with her brother.) Lots of people flew to Israel for this election. Tickets were crazy expensive. My parents thought about doing it (and my grandma who is passionately anti-Netanyahu and was marching against him during the judicial reform stuff at her very advanced age even wanted to pay for their tickets, not that they’d have taken her up on that it would be harder for her to afford then for them) but weren’t able to swing it with their work schedule. ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/4 "2026-10-27T15:11:56Z")
After Brazil and Serbia I’m feeling optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/5 "2026-10-27T15:16:26Z")
We’re at the time of year when I’m never sure which other nations are or aren’t on daylight savings time. Is Israel currently 6 hours ahead of NYC? (I’m looking for when the polls will close in a time zone i know. 😆) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/6 "2026-10-27T15:16:37Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > With any luck the fascist incumbent will lose this one. Bibi is responsible for October 7th, and people haven’t forgotten his Judicial Reform stunts either. I am very hopeful that he will be sent packing. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/7 "2026-10-27T15:16:58Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > We’re at the time of year when I’m never sure which other nations are or aren’t on daylight savings time. Is Israel currently 6 hours ahead of NYC? Israel went on DST last weekend I believe. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/8 "2026-10-27T15:19:08Z")
It is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time. 5:18pm as I post. It looks like polls close at 10pm. How long do the counts usually take? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/9 "2026-10-27T15:19:57Z")
So 4pm ET? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/10 "2026-10-27T15:21:00Z")
Yes, polls close at 4pm Eastern Time. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/11 "2026-10-27T15:21:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > How long do the counts usually take? Alessan addressed this in the other thread: > [@Voting 2026 - Good, Bad, and Ugly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-2026-good-bad-and-ugly/1033700/111): > > Exit polls will be published at 10 PM Israel time (4 PM Eastern) after voting ends; actual results will start coming in then and we’ll know for sure by tomorrow morning. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/12 "2026-10-27T15:22:54Z")
I’m seeing serious discussion of whether turnout will reach 80%. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/13 "2026-10-27T15:23:11Z")
Do you know what the previous high was? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/14 "2026-10-27T15:26:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Do you know what the previous high was?. 79% in 1973 after the Yom Kippur war. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/15 "2026-10-27T15:27:06Z")
That makes sense. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/16 "2026-10-27T15:27:16Z")
So, what is the political climate with the way things stand? Since Trump is kicking the ass of Iran, perhaps Israel’s biggest enemy, does that translate into an approval rating for their present government? Or, are they tired of all the conflict and want a kinder, gentler government? Also, since expatriates are spending big money to fly home and vote, does that mean Israel has no option for remote voting electronically? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/17 "2026-10-27T15:28:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That makes sense. Thank you. Little bit more context: Golda Meir did win that election but she had also called it herself right after the war to show that she still had a mandate, and after a gruelling marathon to form a government she resigned leadership of the party. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/18 "2026-10-27T15:28:52Z")
**Moderating:** > [@Jasmine](#): > > Since Trump is kicking the ass of Iran, Are you making a joke? Please don’t try to hijack this thread with such a post. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/19 "2026-10-27T15:29:55Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Are you making a joke? Please don’t try to hijack this thread with such a post. Sorry, I just thought the U.S. approach to perhaps their biggest enemy would have some influence on how they view things at the polls. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194/20 "2026-10-27T15:31:28Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > So, what is the political climate with the way things stand? A lot of people really really really hate Bibi, his base of supporters are extremely die-hard, and the Haredim are a giant fucking mess. > [@Jasmine](#): > > Also, since expatriates are spending big money to fly home and vote, does that mean Israel has no option for remote voting electronically? This comes up internally for discussion every so often, Israel intentionally doesn’t allow absentee ballots to avoid people living abroad voting too easily so that the people voting have more stake in the game. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-election-2026/1034194.md?page=2)