HaGaon HaTzaddik Rav Binyamin Finkel, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir, at the polling station on Election Day.

With extraordinary mesiras nefesh, just minutes after being taken off respiratory support in the intensive care unit at Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Hacker, Rosh Yeshivas Grodno and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, asked to go to the polling station to cast his vote for United Torah Judaism (Gimmel).

The Gerer Rebbe is currently casting his vote at a polling station in Yerushalayim.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich held an emergency meeting with dozens of right-wing municipal leaders amid high voter turnout among left-wing and Arab voters. Netanyahu warned that the right could lose the election unless more supporters head to the polls, calling Lieberman “fake right.” Smotrich urged municipal leaders in Judea and Samaria to send activists into cities to mobilize voters door-to-door, warning that votes for Ofer Winter and other smaller parties could be wasted if they fail to cross the electoral threshold.

HaGaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman delivered strong remarks against drafting bnei yeshiva into the IDF while visiting the kever of his father-in-law, Maran Rav Shach ZT”L, on his 25th yahrtzeit. “No one will go to the army, neither through persuasion nor through threats. This is truly a decree of religious persecution and destruction against all of Klal Yisrael.”

Voter turnout in Israel's elections has surged to 55.7% as of 4:00 p.m., compared to just 47.5% at the same time in the 2022 elections, a massive increase of 8.2 percentage points. Acting Director General of the Central Elections Committee Dean Livne: “If we continue at this pace, we may break the 80% turnout mark by the end of the day.” Meanwhile Likud has submitted a request to extend the voting hours.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri issued an urgent warning to party activists over what he described as exceptionally high voter turnout among left-wing and Arab voters. “This is not fearmongering. This is a real situation unlike anything I can remember. There is a real danger to Yiddishkeit in Israel! All the rabbonim say this is the final battle before the arrival of Moshiach. "Go vote immediately!"

Amid low voter turnout in Charedi communities compared to Arab communities, Agudas Yisrael chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf is personally urging voters to head to the polls at the Ger campaign headquarters in Beit Shemesh.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher accompanied Gedolei Yisrael as they headed to the polls this morning to cast their votes for United Torah Judaism.

A fight broke out between Arab voters at a polling station in Rahat, southern Israel, during today's elections.

Itamar Ben Gvir arrived at the beach in Bat Yam to encourage residents to head to the polls amid reports of low voter turnout in the city.

Heavy rain and flash flooding are hitting southern Israel on Election Day, with flooding reported at Arava Junction near the Dead Sea. Highway 40 has been closed in both directions between Mitzpe Ramon and Tzihor Junction, while authorities warn of additional road closures across the Negev, Arava and Eilat regions as severe thunderstorms sweep through the south.

HaGaon HaRav Moshe Tzadka, Rosh Yeshivas Porat Yosef, strongly denied reports that he instructed people not to vote even if it meant the left coming to power. “I never said those words. It’s nonsense!” he declared, rejecting recordings circulated in his name ahead of today’s elections. Rav Tzadka clarified that his position remains unchanged: Every person should follow the guidance of their rabbonim regarding the elections.

Even a Choson during Sheva Brachos is seen voting.

Activists from the Hatzibur HaChareidi, led by Motty Leitner, report being attacked outside polling stations in Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh and Beitar Illit. Footage shows campaign stands vandalized and Leitner campaign signs torn down and burned. The party has filed complaints with Israeli police and the Central Elections Committee.

🚨RECORD-BREAKING TURNOUT IN ISRAEL: Voter turnout reached 44.9% as of 2:00 p.m., the highest recorded at that hour since official records began in 1973, more than 50 years ago. The figure marks a 6-percentage-point increase from the 38.9% recorded at the same time during the 2022 elections.

YWN’s Reuven Biala shares his thoughts on Election Day: On the one hand, voting Gimmel today is neither easy nor enjoyable. Not at all. Let's be honest. Our Chareidi representatives have failed us. And no matter how many times we're told that everything is the Attorney General's fault, we cannot place all the blame on her. Our representatives also bear responsibility, and they deserve to hear it clearly: You failed. In general Israeli politics, when elected officials fail, they pay the price. They go home. But in our community? The same politicians, the same promises, and we're left dealing with the same problems. But there's another side to this, and it's just as important. We don't go to the voting booth because we love Yaakov Asher or Eliyakim Stark. We don't vote because we're happy with our representatives, and certainly not because everything is fine. We vote because that's what our Gedolei Hador have instructed us to do. Even when it's difficult. Even when it hurts. Even when we don't fully understand. Even after we've all felt the consequences of the sanctions and the painful situation facing the Chareidi community. We can be angry at our representatives. We can demand accountability. We can criticize them, and we should. But at the end of the day, for us, voting is not an expression of confidence in politicians. It is an expression of our trust in Gedolei Yisroel. And perhaps that's the hardest thing to explain to someone looking at our community from the outside. "ככל אשר יורוך" — even when it's difficult. Especially when it's difficult.

A 94-year-old man tragically collapsed and died in Ramat Gan on Tuesday morning, shortly after casting his ballot in Israel’s Knesset elections. The elderly man had arrived at a polling station to exercise his right to vote. After completing the voting process, he collapsed on Rechov HaChayil in Ramat Gan. Emergency responders from Hatzalah and Magen David Adom rushed to the scene and found the man unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing.

Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement Tuesday afternoon alleging an attempt to steal Israel's elections following the arrest of three suspects in the Negev over suspected vote-buying involving cash-filled envelopes and Ra'am voting slips. Netanyahu also claimed that turnout in Arab communities in the south was significantly higher than in Jewish communities. Police are investigating the suspected bribery, but no broader coordinated election-fraud operation has been established.

A man carrying a large knife was arrested Tuesday afternoon after approaching Democrats chairman Yair Golan during an Election Day campaign visit to Tel Aviv's Park HaMesila. According to Golan's party, security guards intercepted the suspect after he approached in a threatening manner, and a knife fell from his clothing. The guards restrained him before police arrived. His intentions have not yet been established.