Jerusalem:Israel entered an election silence period on Monday ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary elections, with restrictions on campaign activities taking effect at 7 pm local time (1700GMT), as reported by an Anadolu correspondent.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, under Article 129 of the Knesset Elections Law, campaigning at gatherings, marches, through loudspeakers, and on radio and television is prohibited from 7 pm on the eve of the election and throughout polling day. Most polling stations are set to open at 7 am (0500GMT) Tuesday and close at 10 pm (2000GMT), with smaller communities operating from 8 am (0600GMT) to 8 pm (1800GMT).

Vote counting will commence after polling stations close at 10 pm, with Israeli media outlets expected to release exit poll results, according to Israel's Channel 12. The Central Elections Committee has until November 4 to publish the official results in the official gazette, following Article 11 of the Basic Law The Knesset.

More than 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote for the 26th Knesset, with 37 parties and electoral alliances contesting seats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party faces competition from Yashar, led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, which could emerge as the largest party according to opinion polls.

Voting will occur at 12,018 polling stations, with approximately 18,000 ballot boxes and around 100,000 personnel working on election day. Of these, 6,209 stations will be accessible for people with disabilities. To aid voter access, 660 intercity public transport routes and all Israel Railways services will be free on election day.

Netanyahu, who has led the government since December 2022, is facing corruption charges, which he denies, and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Forming a government will require the support of at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset.