The Likud on Tuesday submitted a formal request to the Central Elections Committee (CEC) for voting hours to be extended, citing congested polling stations nationwide.
Ofer Winter’s People of Israel, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit, and the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Shas party joined Likud's request for an hour-long extension.
“Our representatives on the ground are reporting unusual crowding at polling stations,” Winter explained in a statement regarding the request. “This situation risks denying party supporters their right to vote. We must ensure that as many People of Israel voters as possible are able to cast their ballots.”
"I am very concerned about the apathy in the Haredi and right-wing strongholds," said Shas Chairman Arye Deri in a Tuesday statement. "The high voter turnout in the strongholds of the Left and in the Arab sector is deeply worrying."
"According to the data we have, numbers like these have not been seen since 1973."
"There are massive lines at polling stations in Bedouin communities in the Negev and in Tel Aviv, yet, regrettably, in our own camp, among the Haredi and right-wing strongholds, there is a sense of complacency," Deri said.
Decision to extend voting hours can only be made by Sohlberg
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli media reported that the weather could also factor into the debate over whether to extend voting hours.
The decision can only be made by CEC Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.
The Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, opposed Likud's request to extend voting hours in a statement of its own.
"No unusual incident has occurred to justify granting this request," the party stated, "which is intended to lay the groundwork for claims challenging the integrity of the election, in line with the lies Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning."