Knesset Election: 640,000 First-Time Voters Face Tuesday Ballot

Six hundred and forty thousand Israelis aged 18 to 22 are eligible to vote in Tuesday's Knesset election. The Israel Democracy Institute estimates this group represents nearly 10% of the total electorate. Their collective choice could decide as many as 12 seats in the 120-member parliament.

The Institute has tracked the political attitudes of these new citizens for months. Tammy Hoffman, who heads the education policy program at the Institute, explained that Israel's high birth rate creates a large pool of new voters. She noted that if turnout matches historical patterns, this demographic will influence the final outcome. The Institute co-sponsored a recent event with the Yigal Allon Center to engage these voters directly.

A May survey by the Institute found high intent to vote among young citizens. Between 80% and 95% of prospective first-time Jewish and Arab voters said they would definitely or probably cast a ballot. Secular Jewish youth showed the highest certainty, while 87% of Arab respondents intended to vote. A separate poll by Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth found 67% of young respondents certain they would vote, with another 19% likely to participate.

National security and the cost of living emerged as the top concerns for these young voters. Hoffman attributed this focus to their recent life experiences. Many were in junior high during the pandemic, witnessed the judicial reform protests, and lived through the events of October 7. She stated that these young people are worried about their future.

Political preferences among this group remain varied. An N12 poll conducted on September 23 found that 74% of young people described their views as right-wing or center-right. Only 23% identified as left-wing or center-left. In that survey, 16% of respondents said they would vote for Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, while 14% supported Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud.

Mock elections in high schools have shown different trends. Most students backed Yashar and Beyachad, a party led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. There was some support for Likud, but little backing for Itamar Ben-Gvir's far-right party. Hoffman noted that military service can sometimes shift political views, raising questions about war goals.

Individual voters illustrate the range of opinions. Yael Chernyvsky, 18, from Ramat Hasharon, is in an army preparation program in the Negev. She plans to support either the Democrats or Yashar, both part of the opposition change bloc. She has not settled on a specific party but wants to change the country's future. She blamed the current government for the nation's problems.

Omer Gross, from Jerusalem, is in an army-prep program in the Golan. He plans to vote for the Religious Zionist party led by Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin. Although he disagrees with Smotrich's approach in Gaza, he supports the party's policies in the West Bank. He cited the need for a strong and secure Israel as his primary motivation.

Tomer Shiloh, 18, of Herzliya, is a program-mate of Gross. He will vote for the change bloc. He wants the next government to require ultra-Orthodox men to serve in the IDF and to lower living costs. A 22-year-old reservist identified as Sgt. M plans to vote for the Democrats. He cited economic grounds, including the cost of tuition, books, food, and housing, as his main reason.

Khalel Alaa Sabeh, 18, of Shef-Amra, wants an Arab party that will close resource gaps in Arab communities and tackle crime. He is urging his friends to participate in the election. He said he will stay in the country regardless of the result, stating, 'I won't leave the country. This is my land, this is my home.'