Voter turnout at 61.3% as of 8 p.m, lower than 2015

At 2 p.m. turnout stood at 35.8%, compared to 36.6% in the last election.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A JOURNALIST takes a photograph of old ballot slips during a briefing at the Central Election Committee Logistics Center last month (photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
A JOURNALIST takes a photograph of old ballot slips during a briefing at the Central Election Committee Logistics Center last month
(photo credit: AMMAR AWAD / REUTERS)
As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, 61.3% of eligible Israeli voters exercised their right to vote in, 1.1% less than in the 2015 elections when 62.4% did so at the same time, the Central Elections Committee announced. 
At 4 p.m. 42.8% had voted, compared to 45.4% in 2015 and at 2 p.m. turnout stood at 35.8%, compared to 36.6% in the last election.
By three o’clock, only 20% of Arab voters had cast their ballots, prompting Arab candidates and leaders of the Arab Israelis to make urgent appeals to their constituents to take part in the electoral process.
Upping his "gevalt" campaign Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a planned campaign event in Ashdod on Tuesday and returned to Jerusalem, where he said he was going to work to "save the Right" and ensure that a right-wing government comes to power following the elections.
"I received a dramatic update that there is low turnout in Likud strongholds but that there is high turnout in left-wing strongholds," Netanyahu said. "We have to save the Right. There are only a few more hours."
Ballots opened at 7 a.m. countrywide and will remain open untill 10 p.m. when the first result predictions will be announced, although ballot counting will last through the night.