{
  "id": 11462440,
  "title": "Vote your conscience: Five reasons why Israelis should forget the electoral threshold - opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/vote-your-conscience-five-reasons-why-israelis-should-forget-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T14:58:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-910299"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When casting your vote in Israel's upcoming election on October 27, resist the urge to dismiss smaller parties based on the electoral threshold. Here are five compelling reasons to do otherwise:\n\n1. Polls are unreliable: In past elections, projections were wildly inaccurate. For instance, a party expected to win only two seats in 2006 actually won seven, while a party initially estimated at 14 seats ended up with seven. Given the track record of pollsters, their predictions should not dictate your choice.\n\n2. Polls are manipulated: Behind every poll lies a vested interest—whether a news outlet's editorial stance or a political party seeking momentum. These surveys often reflect the preferences of those who commissioned them. Their results can swing dramatically depending on who conducts the poll, making them a political tool rather than a reliable indicator.\n\n2.5: Pollsters leave out many parties: Out of 38 parties, many fail to receive a listing due to the limited space in polls. Only a dozen or so prominent names are usually offered to voters, effectively sidelining many others. This omission prevents these parties from gaining visibility and vote share.\n\n3. Polls exclude crucial demographics: Certain groups, including soldiers on active duty, new immigrants, and first-time voters, are often excluded from poll samples. With over 600,000 young Israelis voting for the first time, and many soldiers and new immigrants casting their ballots, these groups can significantly influence election outcomes.\n\n4. Recent history teaches us: Following the October 7 attack, there was a strong call to remove all current Knesset members from office. However, voting for established parties is likely to keep these same individuals in power. Look instead to new parties that are building from scratch, devoid of past Knesset members, like People of Israel and Haredi Public.\n\n5. Party platforms are divisive: The current Knesset is deeply polarized along sectarian lines, with parties rallying voters around entrenched identities and conflicts. Many parties are more focused on maintaining their base's support rather than fostering unity and bridging divides. Choosing a new party that aims for reconciliation and inclusivity can help heal the nation's wounds and move beyond the current strife.",
  "summary": "With five weeks left before we go to the ballot box on October 27, I want to make the opposite case: vote for the party you actually believe in, and let the electoral threshold take care of itself.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}