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Record 650,000 double-envelope votes could swing 15 seats

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 19:59 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Israel holds elections for the 26th Knesset on October 27, 2026.
Special sites allow IDF, police, hospital and nursing-home voters to cast double-envelope ballots.
Record 600,000-650,000 double-envelope votes could affect roughly 15 Knesset seats.
Counting begins at 10 p.m., with final results required by November 4, 2026.
A Yeruham woman declined a 500-shekel bribe to vote for a party.

History

In 1996 Israel held its 14th Knesset election, marking the first use of double-envelope ballots for overseas and military voters. The Central Elections Committee reported 1.2 million such ballots, and the Likud party secured 32 seats, a 12-seat gain. Today’s 2026 election mirrors that precedent, with the IDF, police, hospitals and nursing homes again employing double-envelope voting to influence roughly 15 Knesset seats. The recurring reliance on this system underscores Israel’s enduring challenge of balancing security-driven voting access with anti-corruption safeguards.

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Historical Context

In 1996 Israel held its 14th Knesset election, marking the first use of double-envelope ballots for overseas and military voters. The Central Elections Committee reported 1.2 million such ballots, and the Likud party secured 32 seats, a 12-seat gain. Today’s 2026 election mirrors that precedent, with the IDF, police, hospitals and nursing homes again employing double-envelope voting to influence roughly 15 Knesset seats. The recurring reliance on this system underscores Israel’s enduring challenge of balancing security-driven voting access with anti-corruption safeguards.

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