Israel Votes Tuesday in Its First General Election Since the October 7 Attack. The Rules, the Numbers and the Final Rally

Israelis vote Tuesday, Oct. 27, to elect the 26th Knesset, the country's first general election since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza that followed. On Saturday night, tens of thousands rallied in Tel Aviv demanding an independent state commission of inquiry into the security failures behind the attack, according to ABC News Australia and Al Jazeera.

The basics come from Israel's election authorities. The Ministry of Interior's election page lists 7,331,981 eligible voters in the final register. To vote, a person must be an Israeli citizen, be listed in the register and be at least 18 on election day, according to the Central Elections Committee and a Knesset briefing document.

Israel elects its 120-member parliament by nationwide proportional representation. Voters choose a party list, not individual candidates. Lists that win at least 3.25% of valid votes share the seats in proportion to their totals, according to the Central Elections Committee. A list that falls just short of the threshold wins nothing, which is why small parties' fates often decide which bloc can form a governing majority of 61 seats.

Thirty-eight candidate lists filed nominations with the Central Elections Committee, according to its candidates page. The final number on the ballot depends on the committee's approvals and any withdrawals before Tuesday.

After the vote, the president consults with the parties and assigns a member of the Knesset to try to form a government, which requires the support of a majority. That process can take weeks, and an inconclusive result can lead to another election, as happened repeatedly between 2019 and 2022.

The campaign has centered on accountability for Oct. 7. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has flatly refused to have an independent investigation into the events of October 7, 2023," ABC News Australia reported. Saturday's rally in the plaza known as Hostages Square was organized by the October Council, a group founded by families of hostages taken to Gaza. "Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability and establish a state commission of inquiry," the group wrote on X, according to Al Jazeera.

Opposition leaders attended. Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party, described by Al Jazeera as Netanyahu's main center-right rival, was greeted with chants of "Who's coming? The next prime minister," Al Jazeera reported, citing The Times of Israel. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, also attended, as did Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beiteinu and Yair Lapid, according to ABC News Australia. Haaretz reported other anti-government demonstrations around the country, according to Al Jazeera.

Those at the rally told ABC News Australia they wanted a change of government, arguing Israeli democracy is under threat. Boston Uncut could not locate a statement from Netanyahu's Likud party responding to Saturday's rally.

The Israel Democracy Institute maintains a running guide to the 2026 election, including party lists and polling, for readers seeking detail beyond the official materials.

Unknown until the count: whether the governing coalition holds a majority, which small parties clear 3.25%, and how long coalition talks will take. Polls close Tuesday night Israel time, which is Tuesday afternoon in Boston.