Election Day in Israel – A Holiday

Last Updated on November 17, 2021

Election Day in Israel is a Holiday – Shabbaton

Hebrew:  יום הבחירות – יום חופש

Election day in Israel IS a non-working day – also known by the term Shabbaton. The following services however, will operate as usual

• Employees of the Central Elections Committee – anyone who works for the committee or provides a service to the committee, and for Elections Day only, any employee of the political parties running for office or anyone providing for them a service.
• Transportation services, parking lots and gas stations
• Restaurants, cafes, kiosks, hotels and inns.
• Industrial or agricultural factories which have round-the-clock production.
• Communications services.
• Water and electricity utilities.
• Fuel supply and delivery.
• Theaters, cinemas, and other places of entertainment.
• The press, radio, and television.

• Your rights as a salaried employee for election day
• Voter’s Roll – make sure you are registered
• Disabled Voters
• Pink voter’s slip
• How to cast your vote – step-by-step instructions

• Bread, fruit, vegetables, and dairy transport, on Elections Day until 11:00 AM.
• Grocery stores between 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM (up to 6 hours).
• Baking of bread and production of dairy products.
• Hospitals and medical services which function on Shabbat or holidays on special schedules will operate at the same times on Elections Day.
• Security forces and all types of rescue services.
• Burial services.
• All other services that operate on Shabbat or holidays on special schedules will operate at the same times on Elections Day.

Employees of all of these services will be given the opportunity to vote during the course of the day.