Early voter turnout in the Israeli election reached its highest level in 45 years.
Posted by REAL AF with Andy Frisella, Checked
- Sources
- 7 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 80%
REAL AF with Andy FrisellaOct 28, 2026
Multiple sources, including Reuters and AP, report that early voter turnout in Israel's October 27, 2026 election was the highest for that point in the day in about 45 years, so the claim holds.
Our two reads of who says this, and how, disagree, so it counts as the post's own claim.
What was said
… claims, quote, "They are trying to steal the election from us," just six hours after the polls opened, accusing operatives from the Arab Rom Party of election interference. Meanwhile, opposition leader Gadi Asinat leads Netanyahu 66% to 27% in election odds, with early voter turnout reaching its highest level in 45 years. Um, it's not looking good, and there was some weird stuff that B posted out, like there was this post, ah, that looked like a nuclear bomb had been dropped, and he's like, you know, this is what our life will be like if, you know, we don't maintain and our …
REAL AF with Andy Frisella · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Reuters reports that Israelis voted at the fastest rate in nearly half a century, with 31.5% of eligible voters casting ballots in the first five hours, the fastest since 1977.[1]
Supports. Rappler, CNA, and To Vima report that 16.7% of eligible voters had voted within the first three hours, the fastest early turnout rate since 1981, described as the fastest pace in 45 years.[4][5][6]
Supports. AP reports the 1 p.m.-to-6 p.m. turnout was the highest for those hours since at least 1973, and that turnout at several checkpoints was the highest on record for those hours.[2]
Supports. CNN and DW report that turnout at 2 p.m. (44.9%) was the highest recorded at that hour since 1973, which is consistent with early turnout being at a multi-decade high.[3][7]
Context. The sources use different baselines (1973, 1977, 1981) and different time cutoffs, so the exact years differ. The 45-year framing matches the reports that cite 1981 and fits within the longer 1973 record.[1][4][5][8]
Sources
8 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 1 tier 2, 5 not rated
- 1Fastest turnout for half a century as Israelis pass wartime judgment on Netanyahureuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports, context
- 2The Latest: No clear winner in Israeli election, exit polls suggest, with Netanyahu’s fate uncertainapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 3Israel election latest: Turnout highest in decades as Netanyahu fights to keep power | CNNcnn.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4Fastest turnout in 45 years as Israelis pass wartime judgment ...rappler.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 5Fastest turnout in 45 years as Israelis pass wartime judgment on Netanyahuchannelnewsasia.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 6Israelis Vote at Fastest Pace in 45 Years in Netanyahu Testtovima.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 7Turnout at Israel's election has reached a record high at the halfway stagedw.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 8Israel Election Turnout Hits Highest Level Since 1973en.sedaily.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- 3.3 million people, or 45 percent of eligible voters, cast ballots in the Israeli election by 2 p.m. local time.True
- 63,000 Israeli expats flew home to vote in the election.True
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- Over half a million Jews left America to go to Israel to vote against Benjamin Netanyahu.False
- Hispanic voter participation in early voting is 41% higher than at this point in 2022.Mixed