From candidate lists to a sworn-in government

25th Knesset dissolved

Note · Vote of 62-0 after completing a full term, the first since 1988.

Source: Knesset

Deadline to submit final candidate lists to the Central Elections Committee

Note · Lists were submitted on 7 and 8 September, with the deadline on 8 September at 22:00. 38 lists were filed.

Source: Ynet (9 Sep 2026) / Zman Yisrael (Central Elections Committee schedule)

Voter-notification letters begin mailing

Source: Central Elections Committee

Official campaign broadcasts begin on TV and radio

Note · Permitted only during the 21 days before the election.

Source: Central Elections Committee

Overseas, embassy and shipboard voting opens

Note · Conflicting dates: Maariv (18 Aug) says 15 October; the Jerusalem Post (13 July) says 20 October. Restricted to diplomatic and mission staff and certain officials - this is not general absentee voting.

Source: Maariv / Jerusalem Post (conflicting)

Deadline for surplus-vote (apparentement) agreements between lists

Note · Tied to the pre-election window, not to the September list deadline. Surplus seats are allocated by the Bader-Ofer (D'Hondt) method, which is why these agreements matter.

Source: Maariv, 18 Aug 2026

Last day to publish opinion polls; election silence begins

Note · The publication ban takes effect from midnight of 23-24 October and runs until polling stations close at 22:00 on election day.

Source: Central Elections Committee

Election day for the 26th Knesset

Note · Polling generally 07:00-22:00, and 08:00-20:00 in smaller communities, hospitals and prisons. A national holiday.

Source: Central Elections Committee

Official election results confirmed and published

Source: Central Elections Committee

Deadline for appeals

Source: Central Elections Committee

President's consultations with the party factions

Note · Date not yet known: it follows the publication of the official results and depends on the outcome. To be added once scheduled.

Source: President of Israel (to confirm)

Designation of the candidate tasked with forming a government

Note · Date not yet known. Under the Basic Law the designated candidate has 28 days, extendable by 14 days.

Source: Knesset, Basic Law: The Government (to confirm)

Coalition negotiation period

Note · Date not yet known; depends on the election result and on any extension granted.

Source: Knesset (to confirm)

Knesset confidence vote and swearing in of the government

Note · Date not yet known; takes place once a coalition is agreed.

Source: Knesset (to confirm)