Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, along with the Director General of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, conducted a press conference to unveil details about the upcoming municipal elections scheduled on February 27.
This year, elections will be held in 241 settlements, with a total of 7,191,000 eligible voters. To accommodate voters, 11,617 polling stations will be operational.
Due to war-related restrictions, several changes have been made to the municipal election procedures this year. Elections will not be held in 12 evacuated settlements, with the election dates for these areas to be determined later.
To ensure maximum voter turnout, approximately 1,400 special polling stations will be set up nationwide, including locations such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and workplaces where employees are unable to leave.
In the military, voting will commence eight days before the general election date to facilitate participation for all military personnel. Polling stations will be established not only at military bases but also in combat zones. Notably, polling stations will be introduced in areas of the Gaza Strip, including Khan Yunis, where IDF fighters are engaged in operations, marking a significant development.
The second round of elections, originally scheduled for March 12, will now take place on March 10 to accommodate the Ramadan holiday.
Forecasts predict approximately 400,000 ballots cast through the so-called "double envelopes" (voting in the additional 1,400 polling stations).
Consequently, election results may not be immediately available. The Ministry of Interior Affairs anticipates releasing results by Sunday, March 3.
