Low turnout in Palestinian local vote

What's happened

On April 25–26, 2026, municipal elections have been held across 183 West Bank councils and in Gaza's Deir al-Balah. Turnout has reached about 56% in the West Bank but only 23% in Deir al-Balah. The vote has been described as a symbolic pilot to politically link Gaza and the West Bank while displacement, outdated registries and political disillusionment have limited participation.

What's behind the headline?

What the numbers hide

• Low turnout in Deir al-Balah (about 23%) has been driven by population displacement, outdated civil registries and wartime destruction that have removed many voters from rolls. Officials have acknowledged that many registered residents are dead or displaced.

• A 56% turnout in the West Bank is broadly in line with past local votes but is not translating into strong competition: many races were uncontested or decided by acclamation, boosting Fatah-aligned lists and independents.

• Hamas has not formally participated; candidates have been required to accept the Palestine Liberation Organisation programme, which is excluding Hamas and steering results toward PA-aligned figures.

Who is winning and why it matters

• Fatah and independents are dominating results. That will strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s local visibility and will give it talking points in international discussions about Gaza governance.

• The vote will not solve the PA’s legitimacy problems. The PA has not held national elections in two decades and public frustration over corruption, settler violence and lack of services is persisting. Local councils control water, roads and electricity but lack authority over security and reconstruction in Gaza.

What will happen next

• The PA will use these results to argue it is rebuilding democratic practice and to press for wider recognition in reconstruction talks. This will increase pressure on international actors to engage with the PA’s proposals for Gaza governance.

• Political division will stay entrenched: without inclusion of Hamas or fresh national ballots, voters will continue to treat municipal contests as clan-based or symbolic. That will make national reconciliation and credible presidential or legislative elections unlikely in the near term.

Bottom line

The election has reinserted the PA into Gaza’s political discussion but will not change on-the-ground power dynamics. It will increase diplomatic momentum for PA-led governance proposals while failing to address the underlying causes of voter alienation.

How we got here

The Palestinian Authority has not held presidential or legislative elections since 2006. Reforms enacted last year have allowed individual candidacies and raised quotas for women; the PA has been using local polls to show reform and to reassert political connection with Gaza after Hamas took control of the enclave in 2007.

Our analysis

The coverage has presented a consistent core narrative but emphasised different elements. The Associated Press and France 24 have described the Deir al-Balah vote as a "symbolic pilot" and stressed logistical obstacles: AP wrote that turnout there was 23% and said officials blamed "large-scale displacement and outdated civil registry records." France 24 quoted CEC chair Rami Hamdallah saying the vote is a "significant achievement" and that it will "hope to hold elections in other bodies across the Gaza Strip." Reuters and AFP highlighted the PA’s political aim to "reinforce its claim to authority" over Gaza; Reuters noted Deir al-Balah was chosen because it suffered less damage than other areas. Al Jazeera and The New Arab have focused more on political legitimacy and public disillusionment: The New Arab called the 23% turnout a "reflection of deepening public disillusionment," quoting analysts who said voters are "preoccupied with rebuilding their lives" and see local councils as unable to restore services. Al Jazeera reported that some voting materials did not reach Gaza because of Israeli restrictions and cited the outdated registry and displacement as reasons people are "busy with surviving." The Times of Israel and SBS provided local result details, noting Fatah-backed lists and independents won most seats and that Hamas did not formally field candidates. The Times quoted analyst Reham Ouda saying electing Fatah-linked figures signals a desire for international support for municipal governance. Across the sources, direct quotes converge on two facts: turnout numbers (23% Gaza, ~56% West Bank) and that the PA is presenting the vote as a step toward wider political reintegration and reform. Where they differ is emphasis: some outlets foreground the PA's political strategy and logistics (CEC statements in France 24, AP, Reuters), while others foreground voter alienation and the limited practical impact of municipal councils on reconstruction (The New Arab, Al Jazeera).

Go deeper

• Will the PA hold presidential or legislative elections after these local votes?
• How will international donors treat PA-led local councils in Gaza reconstruction plans?
• What mechanisms exist to update Gaza's civil registry and re-enrol displaced voters?

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