Turnout appears to be nearing record highs, with 74.3% reported to have voted by 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), with lines forming at polling stations in some areas.
\n\nAn exit poll by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc on track to win 50 seats and rival Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc 52 seats.
\n\nThe exit polling from Israeli broadcasters Kan 11, Channel 12, Reshet 13 and Channel 14 provides the first indication of the outcome from election day, but they are not official results, with counting expected to begin overnight.
\n\nThe official results are released within eight days of election day — that is, by Nov. 4.
\n\nNo one party has ever had a majority in the Knesset, or Israeli parliament, with governing coalitions typically hammered out through horse-trading between multiple parties in the days after election day.
\n\nThe U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has clarified a remark he made about Arab-Israeli citizens voting in today's election.
\n\nIn a post on X, Huckabee wrote: “All voting is in person, ID required. No mail-in or absentee ballots. Arabs vote same as Israelis. Contentious process, but it’s a democracy-not many of those in this region!”
\n\nArab citizens…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/