Double-envelope ballots could decide Israel election outcome

The counting of regular ballots in Israel’s parliamentary election is nearing completion, with attention now turning to double-envelope ballots that could change the distribution of seats and influence government formation.

According to the latest figures cited in the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is projected to win 53 seats, while the alliance led by his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, is expected to secure 48 seats. Arab parties are projected to win 19 seats.

None of the blocs has reached the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the final outcome uncertain as officials prepare to count the remaining ballots.

According to CNN, around 650,000 voters cast ballots through the double-envelope system, which is used for specific groups unable to vote through the regular process. These include military personnel, prisoners, hospital patients and staff, diplomats stationed abroad, and people with physical disabilities.

Under the system, voters place their marked ballot in one envelope, which is then placed inside a second envelope containing their identifying information. The envelopes are sent to the election authorities for verification before the ballots are counted.

Officials check whether voters who submitted double-envelope ballots also cast regular votes in person. If a voter has not voted twice, the ballot is considered valid and the inner envelope is opened for counting. The verification process makes the count more time-consuming than that of regular ballots.

The system is similar to postal voting, although ordinary Israeli citizens living abroad are generally required to vote in person, with exceptions for certain categories, including diplomats.

In the 2022 parliamentary election, around 450,000 voters used the double-envelope system, according to the report.

These ballots can influence the final allocation of an estimated 12 to 15 parliamentary seats, making their count potentially decisive in determining which political bloc has the strongest chance of forming the next government.

Source: CNN