One national vote
Israelis vote for closed national lists, not individual district candidates. Seats are allocated proportionally among lists that clear the threshold.
Fast read
What is being decided
Coalitions decide government
No party normally wins a majority. After results, the president assigns an MK to try to form a coalition that can win Knesset confidence.
Election date can move
October 27 is the scheduled date if the Knesset is not dissolved earlier and elections are not postponed by the required supermajority.
Current factions and 2026 campaign map
Parties, members, and plans
New or changed for 2026
Campaign vehicles to watch
Mergers, splits & defections
What changed before 2026
Roll-call record
How parties actually voted
Polling, late May 2026
Where the polls stand
Likud still largest
Together second
No bloc reaches 61
Dates
Election timeline
- Knesset dissolution bill passes its preliminary reading 110-0 amid the coalition crisis over the haredi draft-exemption bill.
- First reading of the dissolution bill scheduled. A final election date will be fixed only once the dissolution law passes; September is being pushed by haredi parties.
- 90-day campaign-propaganda law period begins, based on the scheduled election date.
- 60 days before election day; radio and TV election-ad restrictions become especially relevant.
- Latest date for the CEC to publish candidate-list submission days, hours, and place.
- Candidate lists are due no later than the 47th day before election day.
- Legal latest date for the 26th Knesset election if it is not held earlier; election day is a public holiday.
- Official results must be published within eight days of election day.
Rules
How the election works
Ballot
Voters choose one list. The ballot slip usually shows the list name and its Hebrew letters.
District
The whole country is a single electoral district, so lists are identical nationwide.
Candidate order
Closed lists mean the public cannot reorder candidates on election day.
Threshold
Only lists receiving at least 3.25% of valid votes participate in seat allocation.
Government
Coalition agreements determine ministries and policy priorities after the election.
Special voting
Most citizens vote at assigned polling stations; special rules exist for soldiers, hospitals, prisons, diplomats, and accessibility needs.
For Russian-speaking new immigrants
Olim guide
How Israeli elections differ from Russian ones
First-time voter checklist
Fact-check
Myths circulating in Russian-language Telegram
Terminology
Glossary
Key terms
Party, list, faction — what's the difference?
Research trail
Core sources
- Times of Israel: CEC ruling setting October 27, 2026
- Jerusalem Post: Knesset dissolution bill passes preliminary reading (May 2026)
- Jerusalem Post: Bennett and Lapid join forces under a unified party (Apr 2026)
- Wikipedia: 2026 Israeli legislative election overview
- Central Elections Committee: 26th Knesset timeline
- Basic Law: The Knesset
- Israel Democracy Institute: Knesset 101 and 2026 election mechanics
- Current 25th Knesset members reference
- IDI party profile: Likud
- IDI party profile: Yesh Atid
- IDI: Together, the Bennett-Lapid merger
- Religious Zionist Party platform
- IDI party profile: The Democrats
- IDI party profile: Ra'am
- IDI party profile: Hadash-Ta'al
- IDI party profile: United Torah Judaism