More than 11,000 polling stations open for Israel’s local elections

Israel’s municipal election day was declared a national holiday to boost the turnout of more than 6.653,808 eligible voters who began heading for 11,000 polling stations in towns, local and regional councils and small communities at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The minimum age for eligible voters has been dropped to 17. In places where no single candidate gains more than 40pc of the vote, the top two will go to a rerun on Nov. 13. Around one-fifth of all the candidates listed are women. Voters will be choosing for mayors and heads of local councils as well as members of the municipal councils. Jerusalem is the most hotly contested by four candidates for mayor.