IDF soldiers begin voting at over 850 military polling stations as 2026 Knesset elections approach

Jerusalem Post/Israel Election 2026"The IDF is a national, state-oriented army that will do everything necessary to ensure the elections proceed as planned," IDF Elections Officer, Col. Vered Ben Yehuda said.Follow us on GoogleFILE PHOTO: IDF soldiers cast their votes in a ballot box of the Golan Brigade 474 for Israel's general election at the Sa'ar military base in central Golan Heights on November 1, 2022. (photo credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)OCTOBER 21, 2026 10:00IDF soldiers have begun casting their votes for the 2026 Knesset elections at military bases across the region, the IDF announced on Wednesday. More than 850 military polling stations have been set up and will continue to be active until Election Day on October 27 to ensure that any active-duty soldier, whether they are in mandatory service or reserve duty, can exercise their right to vote, the IDF added, noting that this setup was "subject to operational requirements.""The IDF is a national, state-oriented army that will do everything necessary to ensure the elections proceed as planned," IDF Elections Officer Col. Vered Ben Yehuda said in a statement accompanying the IDF announcement.IDF restricts soldiers' leave, increases its numbers ahead of Knesset electionsIDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir announced a leave restriction for all units on Monday, effective Thursday, that could last up to six days, until the October 27 elections.In addition to the leave restriction, the IDF will bolster its numbers across a wide range of units and brigades, particularly in the West Bank, Zamir said. Zamir emphasized that the IDF’s mission was to ensure democratic elections took place safely and on schedule. Col. Ben Yehuda also issued a statement on Monday, assuring the military’s commitment to letting every soldier vote in the upcoming elections.“We must all act to ensure that every service member can exercise their right to vote, while upholding the non-partisan, state-oriented character of the IDF and strictly maintaining the integrity of the election process,” she wrote. “It is our responsibility and duty, as IDF commanders, to facilitate the democratic electoral process.”Follow us on Google