Voting in Israel’s October 27 Knesset election has begun at diplomatic missions around the world, allowing Israeli diplomats, government representatives and eligible family members stationed overseas to cast their ballots before Election Day.

The Central Elections Committee established 101 polling stations at 99 Israeli diplomatic missions, with approximately 4,800 eligible voters. Voting is taking place over approximately 30 hours as polling stations open according to local time zones.

The first polling station opened at Israel’s embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, followed by the embassy in Fiji. The largest overseas polling station is located at the Israeli Consulate in New York City, where more than 700 people are eligible to vote.

Under Israeli election law, most citizens living or traveling abroad cannot vote overseas and must return to Israel to participate. The IDF is preparing early voting arrangements for military personnel stationed at bases and deployed abroad. Ballots cast at diplomatic missions will be transported to Israel for counting under Central Elections Committee procedures.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)