Local election voting comes to a close

Polling stations closed at 10:00 PM for municipal and local council elections, held this year amidst an ongoing war.

Approximately 7.2 million Israeli citizens were eligible to vote, yet less than 50% exercised this right.

Elections took place across 197 municipalities and local councils, as well as 22 regional councils, with 11,600 polling stations opened nationwide.

Voting ended at 8:00 PM in small settlements (up to 350 inhabitants) and at 10:00 PM in cities.

To maintain law and order during the elections, approximately 19,000 police officers, security guards, and volunteers were deployed throughout the country.

However, elections were not held in 12 towns and local councils in southern and northern Israel due to evacuations.

These areas are slated to hold elections on November 19, 2024.

According to the All-Israel Election Monitoring Center, by 8:00 PM, voter turnout for local elections stood at 44.9%, slightly down from 53% in 2018.

The highest turnout was recorded in Ein Mahil at 88%.

Among large cities, Bnei Brak led with 50.76%, followed by Ashdod with 42.3%, Tel Aviv with 36.1%, Haifa with 36.1%, Beer Sheva with 33.4%, Rishon LeZion with 31.5%, and Jerusalem with 27.8%.