Voting in the Likud primaries is continuing today (Monday), with 14,307 party members having already cast their ballots-10.07% of eligible voters.
For comparison, in the 2022 primary elections, 12,339 party members had voted by the same time.
Jerusalem recorded the highest number of voters among the polling stations, with 564 people having voted there by 12:15 p.m. Polling stations across the country opened at 10:00 a.m. and are expected to close at 9:00 p.m.
At the same time, Yoni Yosef, grandson of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and a former member of the Jerusalem City Council, announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy. Yosef transferred his support to attorney Yair Gabai, who is running on behalf of the Likud in the Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and Shfela district.
Knesset Member Tali Gotliv claimed during the voting that some polling stations had ballots that did not include her name. "Attention, Likud voters! There are polling stations with fake ballots that do not include my name! Stay alert," she wrote.
Gotliv added, "Likud operatives and vote brokers are hysterical over the power of the free votes. Update me directly. A polling station with a fake ballot will be disqualified."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the race for the new women's slot this morning and expressed his support for Osnat Zohar. "She has worked for years on behalf of the Likud and for me. I would be happy to see her continue her work in the Knesset as well," Netanyahu wrote.
Zohar, who is considered close to Netanyahu, is competing for the slot against Dr. Ruth Kabessa Abramson and Keren Atias Bublil. Netanyahu's statement comes against the backdrop of the contest over the slot in the primaries.
Thirty-four serving ministers and Knesset members are competing in the primary elections, alongside dozens of additional candidates. Every eligible voter may cast a ballot at any polling location across the country.
On the national list, each voter is required to choose exactly 12 candidates, while in the districts, voters may choose only one candidate in the district to which they belong. Serving or former ministers, deputy ministers, and Knesset members may not run in the districts or sectors unless they have received special approval by a majority vote.