Likud, Shas, Otzma Yehudit push to extend voting hours amid reports of congested polling stations

Likud, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit have called for extended voting hours, though only CEC Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg can decide to extend voting hours. Follow us on GoogleIsraelis wait in line to vote in the 26th Knesset elections, October 27, 2026.(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)OCTOBER 27, 2026 17:47Updated: OCTOBER 27, 2026 18:09The Likud on Tuesday submitted a formal request to the Central Elections Committee (CEC) for voting hours to be extended, providing no reason for the request.Shas, the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) party, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit joined Likud's request for an hour-long extension, citing congested polling stations nationwide."I am very concerned about the apathy in the Haredi and right-wing strongholds," said Shas Chairman Arye Deri in a Tuesday statement. "The high voter turnout in the strongholds of the Left and in the Arab sector is deeply worrying.""According to the data we have, numbers like these have not been seen since 1973.""There are massive lines at polling stations in Bedouin communities in the Negev and in Tel Aviv, yet, regrettably, in our own camp, among the Haredi and right-wing strongholds, there is a sense of complacency," Deri said.People enjoy the atmosphere at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem during Israel’s general election day, October 27, 2026. (credit: Rachel Alroey/Flash90)Decision to extend voting hours can only be made by SohlbergEarlier on Tuesday, Israeli media reported that the weather could also factor into the debate over whether to extend voting hours.The decision can only be made by CEC Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.The Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, opposed Likud's request to extend voting hours in a statement of its own."No unusual incident has occurred to justify granting this request," the party stated, "which is intended to lay the groundwork for claims challenging the integrity of the election, in line with the lies Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning."Follow us on Google