Israel election turnout highest in 50 years as voting continues

International Desk: Two-thirds of Israeli voters had cast a ballot by early evening on Tuesday, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee, exceeding the total number of voters at the last election.

By 6pm (16:00 GMT), some 66.7 percent of eligible Israelis had voted, up from 57.7 percent by the same time in 2022. Israel’s military says turnout among soldiers had climbed beyond 68 percent by 5pm (15:00 GMT) – higher than the 65 percent tracked at the same stage of the 2022 election.

Polling stations will close at 10pm local time (20:00 GMT), but the Central Elections Committee says anyone waiting in line at that time will still be allowed to vote.