The cost of the upcoming general elections on 11 Shevat 5773 is being placed at approximately 247 million NIS ($65 million), about 40 million NIS more than the elections in 2009. This includes paying 62,000 people who will be working on Election Day, many as poll watchers.

Election Committee official convened earlier in the week and the 246.78 million NIS was approved. This includes 11 million NIS for the committee’s operation. What this figure does not include is party funding, which adds an additional 180 million NIS.

The increase in the cost is attributed primarily to the increase in eligible voters, a larger election committee, and the addition of 1,500 polling stations on Election Day than in the 2009 election.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)