Electoral commission rejects Netanyahu request
Israel’s election authority upholds polling station closing time.
There is news on this story (Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 22:25): Exit polls point to political deadlock in Israel
Follow-up to: Israel votes next week: can Netanyahu continue to govern? Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 05:11
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Israel’s electoral commission has rejected a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies to extend polling station opening hours. The decision comes during an election in which Netanyahu’s position after three years of war is at stake.
Polling stations in Israel will close at 10.00 pm local time according to the scheduled procedure. The electoral commission made clear that voters already in the queue at that time will still be allowed to vote, but that the general opening hours will not be extended.
Netanyahu’s Likud had asked for more time. The party cited the high turnout and said extra time was needed to allow voters to cast their ballots. The main opposition party opposed the request and warned that it could undermine electoral integrity.
The election is the first nationwide poll since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent war. Netanyahu is trying to remain in power, while opposition parties are campaigning with promises of political renewal, an investigation into previous security failures and a different direction for the country.
According to the Central Elections Committee, turnout stood at 44.9 per cent early in the afternoon. At that point, it was the highest turnout since the start of comparable elections. The figures say nothing yet about the final distribution of seats or the formation of a government.
Exit polls are expected after the polls close, but a definitive winner need not be immediately clear. If no bloc wins a majority of 61 seats, coalition negotiations could take a long time and the incumbent government would initially remain in office as a caretaker government.
For Dutch and European readers, the result is relevant because Israel plays a central role in the war in Gaza and regional security. The election could also affect the scope for negotiations with Palestinian and international parties.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The electoral commission rejected a request for longer opening hours.
- The elections take place on 27 October 2026.
- Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to remain prime minister; opposition parties want a different direction for the government.
- The final distribution of seats and coalition were not yet known at the time of publication.
Left
Arguments The rejection protects electoral integrity and prevents an incumbent prime minister from trying to change the rules during the vote.
Values Equal political opportunities, protection of minorities and trust in independent institutions.
Consequences A strict procedure can strengthen the legitimacy of the result, even if forming a coalition subsequently proves difficult.
Centre
Arguments The commission must safeguard practical accessibility and procedural calm at the same time. Allowing people already waiting to vote provides room without changing the general rules.
Values Institutional continuity, legal certainty and practicality.
Consequences The approach limits immediate political damage, but does not remove uncertainty about the result and coalition formation.
Right
Arguments High turnout is democratically desirable and extra time can prevent voters from being excluded. The request for an extension therefore need not necessarily be an attack on the procedure.
Values Majority decision-making, political participation and administrative effectiveness.
Consequences A more flexible interpretation could allow more people to vote, but could also raise suspicions that the rules are being changed during the election.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The rejection, the closing time and the context of the election were confirmed by public news sources. Turnout was presented as an interim figure, not a final figure.
- confirmed Israel’s electoral commission rejected the request to extend opening hours. — Reported by The Guardian and The Times of Israel. source
- confirmed Polling stations close at 10.00 pm local time, with voters waiting in line still allowed to vote. — Described in the public election information provided by The Times of Israel. source
- confirmed Interim turnout was approximately 44.9 per cent at around 2.00 pm. — Reported by The Guardian on the basis of the electoral authority. source
Editor's note
The rejection of the request was reported by multiple public sources. The final election result was not yet known at the time of publication.Sources
- Voters in Israel are deciding whether to oust Netanyahu — Associated Press
- Opposition condemns Netanyahu’s bid to extend voting hours — The Guardian
- The Daily Edition, 27 October 2026 — The Times of Israel
The story so far
- Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 05:11 Israel votes next week: can Netanyahu continue to govern?
- Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 21:26 AI plays key role in Israeli election campaign
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 14:54 Man with knife arrested near Israeli opposition leader
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 19:56 Electoral commission rejects Netanyahu request (this article)
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 22:25 Exit polls point to political deadlock in Israel
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „israël verkiezingen”
- Trouw — „israël verkiezingen”
- NRC — „israël verkiezingen”