The municipal elections on October 22nd 2013 is the Israeli version of midterm elections.

When Israelis went to the polls on February 10, 2009, to elect the 18th Knesset it was decided that the elections for the 19th Knesset would on October 22nd 2013. The 18th Knesset chose to call for early elections on January 22nd 2013, ten months early.

There will be an election on October 22nd with 5.5 million Israelis going to the polls in 191 municipalities to choose their mayors and city councils. Israel’s political parties will be participating. Bayit Yehudi submitted the most lists in cities and towns with 85. Likud and Labor submitted 60 lists each and Yisrael Beytenu is running 46 lists. Yesh Atid, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Meretz will also run in selected cities. This is a chance for voters in most cities to decide if they will stick with their selections from ten months ago.

Israeli analysts will judge each party based on their gains and losses in the municipal elections just as American analysts judge Democrats and Republicans on Congress midterm elections.