Israel's president and several other politicians have cast their ballots in the general election, offering messages to voters and encouraging a high turnout.
President Reuven Rivlin will have the task to choose – after the election – a party leader most likely to forge a governing coalition.
He urged citizens to vote as he cast his ballot, saying, "The only people who decide who will be the next government and prime minister are you."
New Right party leader Naftali Bennett asked voters not to be swayed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign to pull votes from smaller rightist factions. Bennet says he wants "everyone to vote for the New Right" so that "Israel returns to winning."
Avi Gabbay, leader of the Labor party that was once Israel's left-wing flagship, told reporters he hopes Election Day "ends with the replacement of the government."
Rivlin wrote a special piece in today's edition of Israel Hayom, asking voters to exercise the "most noble of democratic acts."
"Just like I do every election, I want to remind people that elections guarantee that the people are in power," Rivlin wrote. "I want you to know that every vote counts because, trust me, no one knows how the election will end. And this year I once again implore you not to stay home. Go to the polling booth and cast your ballot. Exercise your duty and fulfill your right to shape our lives in Israel."
He added: "Our young democracy has seen many changes over the years, some owing to technological developments. In this election, the changes are more palpable and the principled debates on our precious nation's character have been replaced by a culture of virtual discourse."
Rivlin went on to lament that the way people engage one another online has often highlighted "shallowness over depth; recklessness over sound judgment; and cynicism over good faith … and in this atmosphere, I fear many might feel there is no point in participating in the election."
