Israelis fly home to vote in tight parliamentary election

Tens of thousands of Israelis flying home to vote were expected to return before Tuesday's parliamentary election, according to several news reports. The movement could draw attention in a closely contested race, although the number who ultimately vote and their collective electoral effect have not been independently confirmed by an election authority.

Israel generally requires its citizens to cast ballots in person within the country. The limited overseas exceptions cover diplomats and certain official emissaries, the Associated Press reported. That rule means citizens who live abroad and want to participate ordinarily have to pay for travel back to Israel.

AID Coalition, a US-based nonprofit that runs the Fly&Vote initiative, estimated that as many as 67,000 voters would return, based on surveys of expatriates and registration data gathered for the programme, AP reported. The Financial Times cited the group's president as estimating that at least 67,000 had returned by the previous week. CNBC separately reported an estimate of up to 80,000 expected to travel back, citing a group helping organise Israelis overseas.

Those are estimates rather than an official count. Israel has more than 7.3 million registered or eligible voters, according to AP and CNBC. The returning electorate would therefore represent a small portion of the national total, but analysts told the outlets that it could be relevant given the narrow polling margins.

Can Israeli citizens vote from overseas?

In most cases, no. Israeli law generally requires citizens to vote in Israel, with narrow exemptions for diplomats and certain official emissaries posted abroad, AP reported. The restriction has made air travel the practical route for overseas citizens who wish to cast a ballot.

The election is Israel's first since the Hamas-led attacks of October 2023 and the regional wars that followed, AP reported. Polling was described as close, with the Financial Times reporting that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition nor the opposition was forecast to secure an outright majority.

Reports differed on the political leanings of voters returning from abroad. Some interviewees and analysts associated the mobilisation with opposition to Netanyahu. But political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin told AP that expatriates supporting Netanyahu were also returning, and that the overall voting preference of the group was unclear.

Fly&Vote was created by AID Coalition to help facilitate return travel. The group says it does not take a partisan position, ask participants how they plan to vote, or provide travel funding or incentives, the Financial Times reported. CNBC reported that private donations paid for a charter flight from Portugal and blocks of seats from the New York area, while passengers paid for their own tickets.

The eventual turnout among overseas residents, and whether it affects the result, will depend on the votes actually cast. No official election body was cited in the reports as having verified the number of returnees before polling day.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.