Jerusalem:Voter turnout in Israel's parliamentary elections reached 66.7% by 6 pm on Tuesday, marking the highest figure recorded at that hour since 1973, as confirmed by the Central Elections Committee.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, this turnout represents an increase of approximately 9% compared to the same time during the previous elections. Din Livne, the acting director of the committee, noted that they have surpassed the number of voters from the previous elections night in 2022 and mentioned the possibility of extending voting hours.

Israel's private Channel 12 reported that the current turnout surpassed the previous record of 65.2%, which was set in the elections of 1973 and 1988. By 4 pm, the turnout stood at 55.7%, with over 4.08 million voters having cast their ballots, an increase from 44.9% at 2 pm according to earlier committee figures.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has requested an extension beyond the scheduled 10 pm closing time of polling stations, with Justice Noam Solberg, the committee chair, expected to decide on this request. The Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, opposed the extension, stating no exceptional event had occurred to warrant it. However, Otzma Yehudit supported Likud's petition, citing congestion and unusually long waits at polling stations.

The Central Elections Committee has clarified that anyone arriving at a polling station by 10 pm will be allowed to vote, even if they cast their ballot after that time.