The turnout in this city in Israel’s second general election appeared large this evening as the last few voters hurried to the polls to cast their ballots before the polling places closed. Throughout the day orderliness marked the voting, with lengthy queues forming in front of most polls.
Many of the country’s top political leaders turned out early to cast their ballots. Shortly after 8 A.M. Premier David Ben Gurion and his wife walked to their polling place, where a respectful crowd insisted that the Premier and his wife go in immediately, out of turn. In nearby polls, at almost the same time, Mapai’s Speaker of the Knesset Joseph Sprinzak and Menahem Beigin, leader of the government’s rightwing opposition Herut Party, also cast their ballots.
In Jaffa the most distinctive feature of the long lines of waiting voters were the numerous veiled Moslem women. Besides Syria, Israel is the only Middle East country where Moslem women have the franchise.
The major parties, anticipating a heavy turnout, mobilized hundreds of autos, buses and trucks to transport voters to the polls. In some instances vacationists were brought from Galilee resorts and then taken back after voting. Vehicles were also in constant use between the polling places and immigrant work villages on the city’s outskirts. For a period of 36 hours the authorities lifted restrictions on private inter-zonal automotive travel.
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