Voting stations opened on Saturday morning across the occupied West Bank, as residents began choosing representatives for dozens of local councils in a long-awaited electoral process. More than a million people are eligible to participate, with polling taking place across hundreds of centres and continuing until the evening.

The vote is being conducted under updated electoral rules introduced in 2025, combining party-list voting in municipal councils with individual candidate selection in village councils. The process has drawn thousands of candidates competing across both urban and rural areas, with officials overseeing counting procedures that are publicly documented at each polling station before central collation.

A significant development in this cycle is the return of municipal voting in Deir al-Balah, where local elections are being held for the first time in twenty years. Residents began arriving early at polling centres across the city, where four competing lists are contesting control of the municipality, reflecting renewed interest in local governance after a prolonged hiatus.

Across the territory, the vote is seen as a rare moment of civic activity following years of political stagnation at the municipal level, particularly in Gaza where no local elections have taken place since 2006. Final results are expected shortly after polling closes, with official confirmation to follow after verification and any legal challenges.