Nearly three-quarters of Jewish Israelis are concerned over possible danger to the integrity of the 2026 election, and only 43 percent are optimistic about the future of democratic rule, a poll published on Thursday has found.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute’s July 2026 Israeli Voice Index, 70% of Israelis (72% of Jews and 58.5% of Arabs) “think that there is danger to the integrity of Israel’s elections,” which are slated to be held on October 27.

Among respondents, 90% of Jews on the political left, 76% in the center and 66% on the right expressed concern about the issue.

The poll also found that a minority — 40% of Israelis — are optimistic about the future of Israeli democracy (up from 37% last month), with 43% of Jews and only 24.5% of Arabs expressing optimism about the future of democratic rule.

The institute’s pollsters asked about election integrity following last month’s speech by President Isaac Herzog in which he warned of “violence rearing its head” and pleaded with Israelis not to “cross red lines” during campaign season, noting that past periods of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel were destroyed by internecine hatred.

The president warned of both “internal and external” threats to the integrity of the elections, and urged law enforcement to act against all such threats.

“I turn to elected representatives, activists, and all candidates from all parties, and demand that you do not cross red lines. Do not turn rivals into enemies,” Herzog said. “I call on the people of Israel, in a clear voice: Remember that elections are not a civil war.”

He noted a meeting he held earlier in July with Shin Bet chief David Zini and Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, which followed backlash over comments from Zini about being loyal to the current government.

At the meeting, the........

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