TEL AVIV (VINnews) – An estimated 67,000 Israelis living abroad plan to travel to Israel to vote in the Oct. 27 elections for the 26th Knesset, according to a survey released Thursday by the Fly&Vote initiative.

The figure marks an increase from an earlier estimate of about 53,000 published at the start of October. The initiative is operated by the AID Coalition.

The voluntary survey, conducted Oct. 12-21 among roughly 23,000 Israelis living overseas, found that 79.6% of respondents said they intend to travel to Israel to cast ballots. By comparison, only 14% said they had done so in the 2022 elections.

Fly&Vote noted that the survey does not constitute a representative sample of all Israelis living abroad. Organizers said the 67,000 estimate is based on an analysis of registration data with the initiative rather than a count of people who have already arrived in the country.

According to the results, 48% of respondents are coming from the United States, 37% from European countries, 5% from Canada and 2% from Australia and New Zealand. Smaller numbers reported traveling from South America, Asia and South Africa.

About 70% of those surveyed said the initiative’s activities influenced their decision to travel and vote, while roughly one-quarter said it helped them obtain information and prepare for the trip.

The initiative has drawn scrutiny from Likud, which filed a petition seeking to restrict its activities.