GET OUT AND VOTE!

It’s almost election time again in Tel Aviv! On Tuesday October 30th 2018 we’ll be voting in the municipal elections – for a mayor and for the city council.

There’s still time to meet the candidates before the election – check out these meetups over the next few days. 

Quick Facts

  • Election Date: Tuesday 30th October 2018 7am to 10pm
  • Where to vote: You can find your election station here.
  • Annual Budget of Tel Aviv municipality – 6 billion NIS
  • Voters: the population of Tel Aviv is 534,000 of which 81.7% of voters are eligible to vote (over 17)
  • Expected turnout: turnout in 2013 was 28.7%, down from 35.5% in 2008 (source here)
  • Voters are voting for two things: the Mayor (4 candidates including incumbent Ron Huldai); and 31 council seats. When you are voting, use the yellow slip to select mayor, and the white slip to select your party for the council seats.
  • For the Mayoral vote there are four candidates: Ron Huldai (incumbent Mayor), Asaf Zamir (current Deputy Mayor), Assaf Harel, and Natan Elnatan.
  • For the Council vote, there are lots of parties. Based on eligible voters and turnout at the last election, a party needs just over 4,000 votes to win a seat on the council.

Mayoral Candidates 

At the last election Ron Huldai won 53% of the vote. Ron Huldai had been polling way ahead this time, but recent polls suggest the gap is shrinking!

Ron Huldai – (Incumbent) Tel Aviv 1 (רון חולדאי)

Ron Huldai is the current mayor of Tel Aviv, a position he has held for the last 20 years. His party is Tel Aviv 1. Check out his Facebook page.

Asaf Zamir – Rov Ha’Ir (אסף זמיר)

Asaf Zamir has served as deputy mayor for the last 10 years. His party is Rov Ha’Ir. Check out his Facebook page.

Assaf Harel – Anachnu Ha’Ir (אסף הראל)

Assaf Harel is a famous Israeli comedian and scriptwriter, and a columnist for Haaretz. His party is Anachnu Ha’Ir. Check out his Facebook page.

Natan Elnatan – Shas (נתן אלנתן)

Natan Elnatan is representative for Shas.

Political Parties

With almost 20 parties to choose from, there’s lots of choice this year for council elections! They break into roughly 3 categories:

  1. Tel Aviv parties
  2. Smaller single-issue parties
  3. National Parties

Graph from official results of municipal election Tel Aviv 2013 document produced by the city council (in Hebrew). Read it here.

Parties with Information in English

Rov Ha’ir (4 seats at last election) – party of Asaf Zamir (צ)

Manifesto in English.

Resources in Hebrew: Website | Facebook page.

Mekomi – Youth (ץף)

Information in English | Information in French

Hebrew resources: website | Facebook page

Green City – Environment (ער)

English language platform.

Hebrew resources: Website and Facebook page.

Olim Beyachad – Olim (ל)

English language platform | Facebook page

Ichud Tel Aviv – Olim (ק)

English language website and Facebook page.

Hebrew resources: Website and Facebook page.

Tel Aviv Parties

Tel Aviv 1 (5 seats at last election) – party of Ron Huldai (תא)

No information available in English.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page

Anachnu Ha’ir – party of Assaf Harel (ע)

No information available in English.

Hebrew resources: Website and Facebook page.

Ir L’kolanu (3 seats at last election) (כל)

No information available in English.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page.

The Tel Avivian List (עם)

No English information available.

Hebrew resources: Website and Facebook page.

Single Issue Parties

Vegan Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv Tivonit) – Vegan (קן)

No information available in English.

Hebrew resources: website and Facebook page.

Jaffa List – Anti Racism (יף)

No English information available.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page.

Drom HaIr – South Tel Aviv (דר)

No English information available.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page of Suzi Cohen Tzemach.

Chai – Green Secular List (חי)

No information available in English.

Hebrew resources: Website and Facebook page.

Believers (גב)

No information in English.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page and website.

National Parties

Meretz (6 seats at last election) (מרצ)

No information available in English.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page | Meretz national website in Hebrew | List of candidates.

Likud (2 seats at last election) (מחל)

National Party Website with English section.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page.

Yesh Atid (1 seat at last election) (פה)

National Party Website with English section.

Hebrew resources: Facebook page.

Shas (שס)

Party of Natan Elnatan.

Get out and vote!