Elections for Israel’s 25th Knesset will take place on November 1, 2022. All Israeli citizens located in Israel are entitled to vote, provided they are 18 years of age by election day. There is no need to register to vote if you are a current Israeli citizen, with a valid address in Israel listed with the Misrad HaPnim.
Toshavei Keva (permanent residents) are permitted to participate in municipal elections. However, they are not entitled to vote in national elections. Toshavei Keva wishing to vote in the upcoming elections must complete the process of Hitezrachut (obtaining citizenship). This process can take several weeks and must be concluded before the Pinkas HaBocharim (Voter Registry) closes, on September 8. Hence, Chaim V’Chessed strongly advises such residents to begin the process immediately. Degel HaTorah can assist in this process. They can be reached at 02-6774500, and will provide assistance to English speakers.
There is another important step which must be concluded prior to the closing of the Pinkas HaBocharim. Many dual citizens are registered with outdated addresses. This is sometimes their parents’ most recent address in Israel, even if from very long ago. If this applies to you, you will wish to update to your current address. This, too, must be arranged before the Pinkas HaBocharim closes.
If you do not update your address, you will only be eligible to vote in your previous residence, even if you no longer live in that city.
Address changes can be completed easily online using this link, or by visiting a Misrad HaPnim office. (Chaim V’Chessed)
What are the advantages of becoming a full citizen beyond being able to vote in the general elections?
Israel places many crazy burdens and obligations on its citizens – for example, automatically making their children citizens even if they were born out of Israel. For a boy coming to learn in Israel, having an Israeli citizenship makes him draft-eligible and he must then start participating in the draft-deferment dance for no reason.
Is being able to vote in the general elections SO important or SO beneficial that it makes citizenship worth it?
(Full disclosure: I am Israeli-born and hold dual Israel/US citizenship. I live in the US now).
Mark Twain: “If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.”