First choice: how, for whom, and why young Israelis vote

A poll of 543 young Israelis aged 18–22, conducted by the Dialog Institute for Yedioth Ahronoth, shows high motivation to vote (67% will definitely come). Among the youth, there is no clear leader: the parties Be-Yahad, Otzma Yehudit, and Yashar each receive about 9% of the vote. 46% of respondents vote at least like one of their parents. Security policy and the cost of living are the main factors in their choice.

A poll of 543 young Israelis aged 18–22, conducted by the Dialog Institute for Yedioth Ahronoth and published on Friday, October 9, 2026, shows high motivation to vote: 67% of respondents said they will definitely go to the polls, and another 19% think they will go. 14% have not yet decided on a party. Among the youth, there is no clear leader—the gaps are minimal: the parties Be-Yahad, Otzma Yehudit, and Yashar each receive about 9% of the vote, corresponding to 15–16 seats. Religious Zionism–Zeut and Likud each get about 8% (14 seats). Yisrael Beiteinu, the Democrats, Yahadut HaTorah, and the Joint List get about 5% (8–9 seats). The new religious party HaTzibur HaHaredi crosses the electoral threshold for the first time with 5 seats. Shas and Ra'am are collapsing among young voters. 46% of respondents vote at least like one of their parents, 28% vote differently. Security policy (27%) and the cost of living (25%) are the main factors in their choice. Among religious youth, security policy is important for 50%, among secular youth—for 19%.