Voter turnout for the 2018 municipal elections is expected to surpass the 2013 turnout. There are 20 lists competing for the 30 seats at Safra Square. The number of votes required to capture each seat will depend on the number of Jerusalemites who vote. Only 39.1% of the residents voted in the 2013 elections, a significant drop from the 43.26% who voted in 2008. Observers expect the downward trend to be reversed this year and there are there are a number of initiatives in place to enhance the percentage of participation – especially among the young generation. Jerusalem has 978,126 residents (Jews, Arabs, Christians and other), of whom 638,405 are entitled to vote for the local elections. Some 848 ballot locations will be open across the city (157 of them in the Arab neighborhoods). Although not all locations are wheelchair-accessible, handicapped persons who require assistance have the right to be accompanied into the ballot box. Anyone who is not sure where their voting station is can call 1-800-222-290 or write to Bchirot2018@moin.gov.il It is important to note that residents who haven't changed their address since the 2013 elections are still registered at the same ballot box. For the first time, this election day will be a sabbatical day for all, except for emergency services. Mayoral candidates The five candidates for mayor, with the top four spots (in order) on their list, are as follows (alphabetically): • Ofer Berkovitch, Hitorerut, with Einav Bar-Cohen, Elad Malka, Aliza Arens and Dan Illouz. His program is to improve employment for the young, promote affordable housing and cleaning. • Yossi Daitch, Agudat Yisrael, with Yochanan Waitzman, Michael Halberstam, Ya'akov Halperin and Yitzhak Betler. Daitch promotes massive construction in the city, to keep young families here and ease the tension caused by haredi residents moving into pluralist or secular neighborhoods; his major emphasis is on cleaning the city. • Ze'ev Elkin, Jerusalem Will Succeed and Yerushalmim, with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Yehuda Ben Yosef, Tamar Abuhatzira and Nir Zuaretz. Elkin's program is focused on housing, employment, sanitation and improving transportation infrastructures. • Moshe Lion, Our Jerusalem, with Ofer Ayubi, Keren Shironi, Yoel Burstein and Neta Deri. His program emphasizes developing employment opportunities and improving the transportation infrastructure and cleaning. He proposes giving two hours per day of free parking to residents. • Avi Salman, I Am Jerusalem, with Yossef Wasserman and Simha Benita. His program is promoting housing solutions and cleaning. Lists not headed by mayoral candidates • ARABS – Al-Quds Lana (Jerusalem is Ours), Dr. Ramadan Dabbash • HAREDIM – Bnei Torah, Chaim Epstein (who quit the race for mayor on Tuesday morning) – Degel Hatorah, Eliezer Rauchberger – Shas, Zvika Cohen • NATIONAL RELIGIOUS – Bayit Yehudi, Hagit Moshe – Likud, Elisha Peleg – Meuhadim (United), Arieh King • PLURALISTS – Baderech Lapisga (On the Way to the Top), Nehemia Assaf – Gimlaei Yerushalayim (Seniors of Jerusalem), Avraham Touboul – Lema'an Hashchunot (For the Neighborhoods), Avi Shalom – Meretz, Laura Wharton – Matzilim et Yerushalayim (Saving Jerusalem), Yossi Havilio (originally a mayoral candidate) – Pisgat Ze'ev al Hamapa ([Putting] Pisgat Ze'ev on the Map), Yael Antebi – Tzeirei Yerushalayim (Youth of Jerusalem), Yakir Jerassi – Yerushalayim Beitenu,
Ofer Berkovitch campaigns with Olim.(photo credit: YANNIK LISSON)