A record-breaking number of participants took part in the latest World Zionist Congress elections, with over 238,000 individuals casting their votes, according to the American Zionist Movement (AZM), which oversaw the process.
This vote plays a crucial role in deciding how billions of dollars in funding are distributed annually to Jewish and Israeli institutions and programs.
The election, which was conducted online over an eight-week period and concluded yesterday, saw nearly double the number of voters compared to the 2020 elections, AZM reported.
The final tally will also include several thousand paper ballots submitted by mail, with official results expected in the coming weeks.
This election shattered previous records for Jewish American participation in Zionist elections, overtaking the prior high set in 1987 when 210,957 people voted exclusively by paper ballot.
American representatives selected in this election — totaling 152 delegates, about a third of the global body — will play a decisive role in formulating the policies of the Zionist movement and steering the allocation of more than $1 billion each year via key organizations such as the World Zionist Organization (WZO), the Jewish Agency (JAFI), the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), and Keren Hayesod.
“This turnout is not just historic — it’s a message,” said AZM Executive Director Herbert Block. “American Jews are saying loud and clear: We’re here, we care, and we’re voting for the future of the Jewish people.”
Voting took place through the website zionistelection.org and was open to American Jews 18 and older who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Voters could not be participants in Israeli Knesset elections.
This year’s election featured an unprecedented 22 competing slates, representing a broad ideological spectrum. Participants included groups ranging from progressive Zionists and environmental activists to chareidi factions and those staunchly opposed to the two-state solution.
The 39th gathering of the World Zionist Congress is slated to take place in Yerushalayim from October 28 to 30, 2025.
With more than 2,900 candidates from 43 states and territories vying for a place at the table, this election could represent a watershed moment, not only for the future direction of Zionist institutions, but also for shaping the dynamic between Israel and Jewish communities across the globe.

{Matzav.com}