Israel's Central Elections Committee rejects Likud bid to extend voting; polls close at 22:00

Israel's Central Elections Committee on 27 October rejected a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party to extend voting hours, so polls in the Israel 2026 election close at 22:00 local time, 21:00 in Italy. The panel said that, as things stand, "there is no justification for extending the voting hours."

The ruling matters because turnout is running at a record and the race pits Netanyahu against former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, so every extra hour of voting could shift the count. Markets are also watching the vote, with oil prices rising ahead of it, according to a market report published on 27 October.

What happened

The Central Elections Committee discussed the petition from Likud and allies and turned it down. Likud's request did not give a reason, and high turnout and rain, as seen on 27 October, would most likely not be grounds for an extension.

Polls opened at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and are due to end at 22:00 (20:00 GMT), as scheduled.

How high is turnout?

Turnout is at record levels for each hour reported by the Central Elections Committee.

• 10:00: 16.68%, against 15.9% four years ago.
• 12:00: 31.5%.
• 14:00: 44.9%, against 38.9% at the same hour in 2022.
• 18:00: 66.7%, the highest at that time.

Separately, a man armed with a knife approached Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, in Tel Aviv. Bodyguards stopped him, and he did not threaten Golan.

Why it matters

The Israel election is a contest for Netanyahu's political survival. He is the country's longest-serving prime minister and, according to reports before the vote, has lacked a parliamentary majority since an ultra-Orthodox party quit the coalition in July 2025.

Eisenkot, the ex-army chief, is his main challenger. Coverage ahead of the vote framed the stakes around the wars involving Iran and Gaza, and projections cited before the vote pointed to a possible gridlock.

The economy is also in the background: analysis published on 25 October pointed to soaring defence spending, rising debt, talent outflows and ultra-Orthodox exemptions as long-term challenges despite strong headline growth.

What are the risks and counterpoints?

The extension request shows how tight the contest is seen to be, though the committee's wording leaves room only for the circumstances "as things stand". Whether record turnout helps or hurts Netanyahu is uncertain; the sources offer competing readings.

Reports before the vote also described tension between Netanyahu and the Israel Defence Forces chief, General Eyal Zamir, over Iran attack plans.

What to watch next

The first signals will come after polls close at 22:00 local time on 27 October, when exit polls from Israeli television networks are expected. Official results and coalition talks will follow, and some coverage warns it could be weeks or months before a winner is clear.

• Exit polls and the first counts after 22:00 on 27 October.
• Final turnout figure from the Central Elections Committee.
• Coalition negotiations between Likud and rival blocs.